Yucahu : Large and Powerful as the Sea;

Spirit Without Male Ancestor

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Yucahu Bagua Maorcoti

CLASSIFICATION:

Zemi

ORIGIN:

Taino

Yucahu is the supreme deity of the Taino, an Arawak people of the Caribbean. He is lord of the sea. Atabey is Yucahu’s mother, although she is also sometimes described as his consort. He has no father and no beginning. In Taino cosmology, a mother and son, Atabey and Yucahu, create the world. All other spirits owe their existence to them.

ICONOGRAPHY:

Yucahu is the most commonly represented Zemi. These so-called three-pointer stones are the largest surviving group of Taino artifacts. Most surviving stones represent Yucahu. He was usually depicted with his mouth wide open and his legs bent back. Some stones were buried in cassava flour. Others were revered as personal zemis.

Creature: Frog

Plant:

Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also known as manioc or yuca. Its root is edible and was a primary Taino food starch, but its leaves can be fatally poisonous. (Tapioca is a cassava product.)

SEE ALSO:

• Anacaona;
• Atabey;
• Xtabay;
• Zemi

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.