Editing Guanches (section)

=== Religion and mythology ===
{{See also|Traditional Berber religion}}
[[File:MNH - Mencey-Stäbe.jpg|thumb|Chieftains' batons from La Palma|224x224px]]

Little is known of the religion of the Guanches. There was a general belief in a supreme being, called [[Achamán]] in Tenerife, [[Acoran]] in Gran Canaria, Eraoranhan in Hierro, and [[Abora]] in La Palma. The women of Hierro worshipped a goddess called [[Moneiba]]. According to tradition, the male and female gods lived in mountains, from which they descended to hear the prayers of the people. On other islands, the natives venerated the [[sun]], [[moon]], [[earth]], and [[star]]s. A belief in an evil spirit was general. The demon of Tenerife was called [[Guayota]] and lived at the peak of [[Teide]] volcano, which was the [[hell]] called [[Teide|Echeyde]];<ref name=EB1911/> in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the minor demons took the form of wild black woolly dogs called Jucanchas<ref>{{cite web |url=http://insuloamaziq.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/jucancha.html |title=ÍNSULOAMAZIQ: Jucancha |access-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021191122/http://insuloamaziq.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/jucancha.html |archive-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> in the first and [[Tibicena]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://insuloamaziq.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/tibicena.html |title=ÍNSULOAMAZIQ: Tibicena |access-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021192545/http://insuloamaziq.blogspot.com.es/2012/09/tibicena.html |archive-date=21 October 2013}}</ref> in the latter, which lived in deep caves of the mountains, emerging at night to attack livestock and human beings.

[[File:Teide Tenerife3.jpg|thumb|Mount Teide on Tenerife]]

In [[Tenerife]], [[Magec]] (god of the Sun) and [[Chaxiraxi]] (the goddess mother) were also worshipped. In times of drought, the Guanches drove their flocks to consecrated grounds, where the lambs were separated from their mothers in the belief that their plaintive bleating would melt the heart of the Great Spirit.<ref name=EB1911/> During the religious feasts, hostilities were held in abeyance, from war to personal quarrels.

[[Cult image|Idols]] have been found in the islands, including the Idol of Tara ([[Museo Canario]], [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]]) and the [[Guatimac]] (Museum Archaeological of Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife). But many more figures have been found in the rest of the archipelago.

Most researchers agree that the Guanches performed their worship in the open, under sacred trees such as [[pine]] or [[Dracaena draco|drago]], or near sacred mountains such as Mount [[Teide]], which was believed to be the abode of the devil [[Guayota]]. Mount Teide was sacred to the aboriginal Guanches and since 2007 is a [[World Heritage Site]]. But sometimes the Guanches also performed worship in caves, as in "Cave of Achbinico" in Tenerife. Until the 20th century, there were in the Canary Islands (especially in northern Tenerife) individuals called "Animeros." They were similar to healers and mystics with a syncretic beliefs combining elements of the Guanche religion and Christianity. As in other countries close to the islands (e.g. [[marabouts]] from the [[Maghreb]]), the [[Animero]]s were considered "persons blessed by God."<ref>{{cite web |first=Fernándo |last=Hernández |url=http://www.esencia21.com/03_CANARIAS_MISTERIOSA/15_ANIMEROS.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505140747/http://www.esencia21.com/03_CANARIAS_MISTERIOSA/15_ANIMEROS.html |archive-date=5 May 2008 |title=Animeros en Canarias |trans-title=Animators in the Canary Islands |language=es}}</ref>

[[File:At Tenerife 2020 292.jpg|thumb|Guanche idol in the [[Museo Guanche]], [[Tenerife]]|254x254px]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+Principal gods of Tenerife
!God
!Role
|-
|[[Achamán]]
|The [[King of the Gods|supreme god]] of the Guanches on the island of Tenerife; he is the father god and creator.
|-
|[[Chaxiraxi]]
|The native Guanche goddess known as "supporter of he who holds the world [Abreu (''ca.'' 1590, III, 13) d. 1676: 90r]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Ignacio |date=2017-09-14 |title=Chaxiraxi |url=https://imeslan.com/2017/09/14/chaxiraxi/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=DICCIONARIO ÍNSULOAMAZIQ |language=es}}</ref>
|-
|[[Guaiaxerax|Guayaxerax]]
|A divine child, son of Chaxiraxi and "supporter of Heaven and Earth." [Abreu (''ca.'' 1590, III, 13) d. 1676: 90r].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Ignacio |date=2017-09-14 |title=Achguayaxerax |url=https://imeslan.com/2017/09/14/achguayaxerax/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=DICCIONARIO ÍNSULOAMAZIQ |language=es}}</ref>
|-
|[[Magec]]
|The god of the [[Sun]] and the light, and also thought to be one of the principal [[divinities]].
|-
|[[Achuguayo]]
|The "Supreme Being," according to oral tradition. [Bethencourt Alfonso (1911) 1994b: 260].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Ignacio |date=2017-10-23 |title=Achuguayo |url=https://imeslan.com/2017/10/23/achuguayo/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=DICCIONARIO ÍNSULOAMAZIQ |language=es}}</ref>
|-
|[[Achuhucanac]]
|[[Rain]] god, identified with the supreme god (Achamán).
|-
|[[Guayota]]
|The principal malignant deity and Achamán's adversary, who dwells inside Mount Teide.
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Mythical beings
!Being
!Role
|-
|[[Maxios]]
|Benevolent minor [[gods]] or genies; domestic spirits and guardians of specific places.
|-
|[[Tibicena]]s
|Demons in the form of black dogs, these were children of Guayota, the malignant deity.
|}