Skip to content
basque.press imagotipo logo basque press
Menu
  • · News · Noticias · Albisteak · Informations · Basque Country · País Vasco · Pays Basque · Euskal Herria ·
Menu
Basque mythology.

The Basque Country has preserved numerous legends that account for ancient mythology.

Posted on March 6, 2023April 19, 2023 by BP

Basque mythology is considered one of the richest in Europe, it includes the myths and legends of Euskal Herria. The Basques maintain a language, Euskera, which has no relation to any of those that surround it. Among the various hypotheses of the origin of the Basques, one of them points to their permanence, at least since the Neolithic, in the territories they occupy. 

Mythological creatures do not live in the sky, but underground. In Basque mythology, more than the origin of things, human behavior is explained. It seems more like a system of ethics than a religious system and therein lies its importance; because, if the cause of things is important for humans, humanity is more important for society, that is, for the group. This is the main message, function and meaning of the words. The orders and obligations of the vestiges of the primitive Basque religion that the Gods leave the future in the hands of humans maintaining the law. Basque mythology contains the archetypes from which all of humanity’s knowledge has emerged. Within deep knowledge are hidden the keys to open the secret doors of all the world’s traditions.

One way to learn about the Basques and their traditions is the museums of Bizkaia that have collections where you can discover Basque history, culture and traditions. One of them tells the story of the Luftwaffe that had bombarded the defenseless Zalla region for hours in 1937 and was razed to the ground, leaving only rubble.

The very essence of the 20th century and its horrors in The Spanish Civil War in the Basque Country. The work is located in the Las Encartaciones Museum, in the Patrimonial Fund, Preserved heritage and was inspired by the tragedy of the town of Zalla and the tremendously devastating effects of the bombs dropped on June 21, 1937 by the German Condor Legion (a intervention force sent by the Third Reich to help the troops of General Francisco Franco).

Zaldi, represents the Basque divinity that takes the form of a horse, appears in numerous legends and in the historical context represents an episode framed in the context of the Spanish Civil War. The Luftwaffe had bombarded the defenseless region of Zalla for hours in 1937, which was razed to the ground, leaving only rubble. An indiscriminate bombardment against the civilian population that would mark the beginning of the typical atrocities of the wars of the 20th century. After this, Lezama felt compelled to document the event for future generations and sculpted the work.

The result was a sculpture almost 1 meter and a half high by more than 25 meters wide that is today the perfect illustration of the disasters of war, drawing on the legacy of art-denunciation. Zaldi is a surrealist work of art created in 1989 by Xabier Lezama Perier with wood from the last restoration of the Las Encartaciones Museum, carried out by the architects Javier Muñoz and Josu Urriolabeitia.

This last great reform of the building consolidated its conversion into a modern museum that aims to promote the study, research and dissemination of all aspects of culture, history, anthropology, heritage and art. It is part of the idiosyncrasy, the traditions around the mythology that stars in the sculptor’s work. Zaldi, represents the Basque divinity that takes the form of a horse, appears in numerous legends and in the historical context represents an episode framed in the context of the Spanish Civil War. The air attack on the town of Zalla, a memory of the history of the civil war and its atrocities.

Patxi Xabier Lezama Perier, is one of the contemporary Basque sculptors considered one of the main innovators of Basque sculpture. He grew up in the Franco dictatorship of Spain; experience that marked him for life, and will also mark his art and his way of expressing himself. Far from the circuits, the artist’s work is essential to understand the sculpture and Basque art of our time. The symbolic and the mythological. The awareness of the importance of Basque culture (its origin, its history and its traditions), as well as the process of modernizing folklore by the avant-garde to provide a new look at ancestral issues. During the 80s, he became especially interested in Basque mythology. Around 1990, with his employment in the forge, he began working with iron. He undertook a cycle of non-imitative sculptures, increasing his concern for Basque art and culture. The scale in Totemism had been addressed at the end of the 80’s in his ethno-cultural plastic inquiry. The presence of mythical figures with a strong historical charge is very characteristic in his work. These are signs that reveal the weight of history and the mythical and literary elements of our cultural past.

El País Vasco ha conservado numerosas leyendas que dan cuenta de la mitología antigua. 

La mitología vasca es considerada una de las más ricas de Europa, incluye los mitos y leyendas de Euskal Herria. Los vascos mantienen una lengua, el euskera, que no tiene relación con ninguna de las que le rodean. Entre las diversas hipótesis sobre el origen de los vascos, una de ellas apunta a su permanencia, al menos desde el Neolítico, en los territorios que ocupan. 

Las criaturas mitológicas no viven en el cielo, sino bajo tierra. En la mitología vasca, más que el origen de las cosas, se explica el comportamiento humano. Parece más un sistema de ética que un sistema religioso y ahí radica su importancia; porque, si la causa de las cosas es importante para los humanos, la humanidad es más importante para la sociedad, es decir, para el grupo. Este es el mensaje principal, la función y el significado de las palabras. Las órdenes y obligaciones de los vestigios de la primitiva religión vasca que los Dioses dejan el futuro en manos de los humanos manteniendo la ley. La mitología vasca contiene los arquetipos de los que ha surgido todo el conocimiento de la humanidad. Dentro del conocimiento profundo se esconden las llaves para abrir las puertas secretas de todas las tradiciones del mundo.

Se puede aprender sobre los vascos y sus tradiciones en los museos de Bizkaia que cuentan con colecciones donde descubrir la historia, la cultura y las tradiciones vascas. Una de ellas relata la historia de la Luftwaffe que había bombardeado durante horas la indefensa región de Zalla en 1937 y fue arrasada hasta los cimientos, dejando sólo escombros.

La esencia misma del siglo XX y sus horrores en La Guerra Civil Española en el País Vasco. La obra se encuentra en el Museo Las Encartaciones, en el Fondo Patrimonial, Patrimonio Conservado y se inspiró en la tragedia del pueblo de Zalla y los efectos tremendamente devastadores de las bombas lanzadas el 21 de junio de 1937 por la Legión Cóndor alemana (una intervención fuerza enviada por el Tercer Reich para ayudar a las tropas del general Francisco Franco).

Zaldi, representa a la divinidad vasca que adopta la forma de un caballo, aparece en numerosas leyendas y en el contexto histórico representa un episodio enmarcado en el contexto de la Guerra Civil Española. La Luftwaffe había bombardeado durante horas la indefensa región de Zalla en 1937, que fue arrasada hasta los cimientos, dejando sólo escombros. Un bombardeo indiscriminado contra la población civil marcaría el inicio de las atrocidades típicas de las guerras del siglo XX. Luego de esto, Lezama se sintió obligado a documentar el evento para las generaciones futuras y esculpió la obra.

El resultado fue una escultura de casi 1 metro y medio de alto por más de 25 metros de ancho que es hoy la perfecta ilustración de los desastres de la guerra, bebiendo del legado del arte-denuncia. Zaldi es una obra de arte surrealista creada en 1989 por Xabier Lezama Perier con madera procedente de la última restauración del Museo de Las Encartaciones, realizada por los arquitectos Javier Muñoz y Josu Urriolabeitia. 

Esta última gran reforma del edificio consolidó su conversión en un moderno museo que pretende promover el estudio, la investigación y la difusión de todos los aspectos de la cultura, la historia, la antropología, el patrimonio y el arte. Forma parte de la idiosincrasia, de las tradiciones en torno a la mitología que protagoniza la obra del escultor. Zaldi, representa a la divinidad vasca que adopta la forma de un caballo, aparece en numerosas leyendas y en el contexto histórico representa un episodio enmarcado en el contexto de la Guerra Civil Española. El ataque aéreo a la localidad de Zalla, un recuerdo de la historia de la guerra civil y sus atrocidades.

Patxi Xabier Lezama Perier, es uno de los escultores vascos contemporáneos considerado uno de los principales innovadores de la escultura vasca. Creció en la dictadura de Franco en España; experiencia que lo marcó de por vida, y marcará también su arte y su forma de expresarse. Lejos de los circuitos, la obra del artista es fundamental para entender la escultura y el arte vasco de nuestro tiempo. Lo simbólico y lo mitológico. La toma de conciencia de la importancia de la cultura vasca (su origen, su historia y sus tradiciones), así como el proceso de modernización del folclore por parte de las vanguardias para aportar una nueva mirada a las cuestiones ancestrales. Durante los años 80 se interesó especialmente por la mitología vasca. Hacia 1990, con su empleo en la fragua, comienza a trabajar el hierro. Emprendió un ciclo de esculturas no imitativas, aumentando su preocupación por el arte y la cultura vasca. La escala en el totemismo había sido abordada a finales de los años 80 en su indagación plástica etnocultural. La presencia de figuras míticas con una fuerte carga histórica es muy característica en su obra. Son signos que revelan el peso de la historia y los elementos míticos y literarios de nuestro pasado cultural.

Museo Zaldi.

Search / Buscar / Bilatu

News · Noticias · Albisteak

  • Euskadi presents its Forest Bioeconomy strategy at the FIBC International Conference in Vancouver, Canada. May 15, 2025
  • Ikerbasque will promote the return of Basque researchers from the United States given the new political scenario May 11, 2025
  • Donostia -San Sebastián Moda Festival, Spring-Summer 2025 May 8, 2025
  • BeDIGITAL will hold its seventh edition at the BEC with the participation of leading companies and organisations April 30, 2025
  • WindEurope 2025: Euskadi – Basque Country showcased its wind energy capacity April 25, 2025
  • Artistic narrative through Basque mythology and folklore   April 11, 2025
  • Bilbao Hosts Food 4 Future: Europe’s Largest Food Innovation Congress April 9, 2025
  • From Donostia – San Sebastian to the world: the cheesecake that is causing a furor March 27, 2025
  • The President of the Basque Country visited the United States of America March 25, 2025
  • SKFK presents its Oreka collection at a Basque pelota court in Paris March 13, 2025
  • Deusto University celebrates de III International Congress on Law and Artificial Intelligence March 7, 2025
  • Singapore and the Basque Country explore new business opportunities in renewable energies and biosciences March 6, 2025
  • Euskadi strengthens its position in Germany with Bavaria as a base camp for internationalisation March 4, 2025
  • Arania accelerates its expansion with innovation, sustainability and digital transformation. February 28, 2025
  • The third edition of the Euskadi logistics congress has been held at BEC in February February 27, 2025
  • Basque companies will participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine February 25, 2025
  • The ASETT centre “Arizmendiarrieta Social Economy Think Tank” opens in Donostia – San Sebastián. February 20, 2025
  • Bilbao Slush’D 2025: Discover, Connect and Grow February 5, 2025
  • The Basque Country seeks to grow and strengthen its position on the international stage January 22, 2025
  • Polypal’s metal storage racks, present in more than 30 countries December 22, 2024
  • The Seenapse platform supports the professional inspiration of creativity December 4, 2024
  • Councillor Mikel Jauregi heads Basque Government institutional and business mission to Japan and Taiwan December 4, 2024
  • ALL IN ON BOARD COURIER: An innovative and pioneering solution in express logistics October 29, 2024
  • Cyber Human Systems launches industrial exoskeleton to minimize fatigue and risk of injury October 29, 2024
  • EIT Manufacturing and Global Factor join forces to boost sustainability in industry October 15, 2024
  • This is LUR-1, the first 100% Basque satellite launched by AVS October 11, 2024
  • Euskatfund provides technical solutions and productivity improvements for the foundry sector worldwide October 7, 2024
  • Lantek company increases revenue and strengthens its position as a global leader October 6, 2024
  • Arkaitz Etxezarreta: “The DUNE project is a major technological and manufacturing challenge for Erreka” October 3, 2024
  • Technology Centers, Universities and Institutions, present Biqain: ‘Bizkaia Quantum Advanced Industries’. September 19, 2024
  • The Basque Diaspora: 7th International Day September 17, 2024
  • Artificial Intelligence International Basque Forum September 7, 2024
  • The ‘Conscious Factory’: TECNALIA makes it a reality with a 15% increase in activity in industrial companies August 28, 2024
  • Irega exports 95% of its adjustable wrench production to international markets August 13, 2024
  • Join BIND’s open innovation program: Call for disruptive startups and scale-ups in Europe July 23, 2024
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Food and Gastronomy: CIC Partners with Basque Culinary Center’s GOe–Gastronomy Open Ecosystem Initiative July 23, 2024
  • ‘Lanzo Batteries’: CIDETEC’s new company will manufacture batteries for space June 23, 2024
  • The new thermonuclear engine concept to power Europe’s space race May 29, 2024
  • Urbegi Social Impact: Transforming organizations and territories throught collaborative work April 28, 2024
  • The Passivhaus-style building with the highest accommodation capacity in Europe, designed by Basque professionals April 26, 2024
  • The Lehendakari, President of the Basque Government highlights the transformative power of the cultural and creative industries at the opening of the CWF24 April 16, 2024
  • The D’Elhuyar brothers: The discovery and isolation of tungsten April 13, 2024
  • Nominations are open for the 9th edition of the Basque Culinary Center world prize March 23, 2024
  • Basque Country Technology Park: the 1st technology park in the world powered by green hydrogen March 16, 2024
  • MUN Bilbao’ 2024, debates, solutions and union among young people of the world February 8, 2024
  • The World Economic Forum publishes in Davos the progress report on the “transition from industrial clusters to zero net emissions” initiative. January 26, 2024
  • “I am like a tree, with roots in a country and branches open to the world.”  Centenary of Eduardo Chillida. January 25, 2024
  • Euskadi reiterates its commitment to European industry at the tenth anniversary of the Vanguard Initiative network January 23, 2024
  • The Basque Government receives the international Catalyst 2030 award in London for its contribution to Agenda 2030 January 17, 2024
  • TECNALIA and FERSA Bearings join forces to implement Industry 5.0 in their European plants January 5, 2024

Categories

  • aeronautic
  • ANTIBIOTICS
  • Art
  • artificial intelligence
  • autism investigation
  • BASQUE COUNTRY
  • Basque government
  • BIO / Salud / Health / Osasuna
  • Business – Enpresak – Empresas
  • Culture / Cultura / Kultura
  • Education/Educación
  • engineering
  • entrepreneurial
  • environment
  • European Commission
  • industry
  • ingénierie
  • Innovation
  • Institutions / Erakundeak / Instituciones
  • International / Nazioartekoa / Internacional
  • Lifestyle / Estilo de Vida / Bizi-Estiloa
  • psychedelic disorders
  • public administration
  • Quality Innovation Award
  • Research / Ikerketa / Investigación / Science / Zientzia /Ciencia
  • space
  • STARTUP
  • sustainability
  • Technology
  • United Nations
  • UPV researchers
  • UPV/EHU
SPRI Group presents and World Manufacturing Forum
Iberdrola guggenheim
Polykey Polymers
Isozaki Atea Plaza de la Conviencia Puente Calatrava Abando
ISOZAKI Towers, Bilbao, Bizkaia
Gotongo
Torre Iberdrola Tower Building Torrea
IBERDROLA Energy, Bilbao, Bizkaia
Valdelana Familia
Culinary Action On the road Basque Center
BASQUE CULINARY ACTION
Nowport
Torre Iberdrola Guggenheim
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Bizkaia
LOGOS Company. Gipuzkoa
Logos
LOGOS Company. Gipuzkoa
Health Bio Technologies
BIOLAN Health workers
TEKNIKER & GAIKER Alliance
Valdelana
LOGOS Company. Gipuzkoa
CIDETEC
Urkullu - CTP
Dan Ansotegui
ZIV
AZTI
Embajador de la Araucania
Inser Robótica
Touchlight
Grupo Unceta
Tekniker and GAIKER Partnership
Echemar
Charla del Lehendakari Urkully con el embajador de Cuba
HanHemen Han Hemen
Dancer
Lehendakari Urkullu con Mathias Geisen CEO de Mercedes-Benz Vans
BASQUEVOLT
7/6/2022 PARTIDO ACB PLAY OFF 3º PARTIDO BASKONIA-REAL MADRID
Atlantic Arc Commission
Arantxa Tapia MUBIL Euskadi
ProWein 2022 - Euskadi Basque Country
Basque Country Japon
Euskadi Basque Country 2025
Select USA - Basque Trade & Investment
One Ocean Summit
Polykey
IKERLAN
Basque Culinary World Prize
Lantek
MoU: Euskadi y Flandes
Roberto Otxandio Izagirre
Mantala
Zeuko
Alias Robotics
Arantxa Tapia Eusko Jaurlaritza Gobierno Vasco
atelier iinovation pays basque eskual herria
BAIC e IndesIA
Dubai Expo - MTA
AZTI and Agour
Lehendakari
Euskadi Net Cero
CIDETEC
Salva
Gobierno Vasco Arantxa Tapia Aingoa Ondarzabal Virginia Energía Cluster
EMO Milan
Ingemat
Mundura Begira 2021
Inzu Group
Metagra
Iberdrola
Ana Arrieta, Fernando Cossio, Quimatryx
Zubiola
Mondragon Assembly
Fundación Ashoka
COP26 Tapia
Euskal Diasporaren Eguna
Euskal DIASPORAren Eguna

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021

Categories

  • aeronautic
  • ANTIBIOTICS
  • Art
  • artificial intelligence
  • autism investigation
  • BASQUE COUNTRY
  • Basque government
  • BIO / Salud / Health / Osasuna
  • Business – Enpresak – Empresas
  • Culture / Cultura / Kultura
  • Education/Educación
  • engineering
  • entrepreneurial
  • environment
  • European Commission
  • industry
  • ingénierie
  • Innovation
  • Institutions / Erakundeak / Instituciones
  • International / Nazioartekoa / Internacional
  • Lifestyle / Estilo de Vida / Bizi-Estiloa
  • psychedelic disorders
  • public administration
  • Quality Innovation Award
  • Research / Ikerketa / Investigación / Science / Zientzia /Ciencia
  • space
  • STARTUP
  • sustainability
  • Technology
  • United Nations
  • UPV researchers
  • UPV/EHU

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

About BASQUE.press

  • Ayudamos a crear y proyectar buenas noticias al Mundo.
  • Mundura berri onak sortzen eta proiektatzen laguntzea.
  • We help create and release good news to the world.

  • ¿Quiénes Somos?

 

Isozaki Atea / Plaza de la Convivencia.
48001 BILBAO / Euskadi / BASQUE COUNTRY
info@BASQUE.press

Tags · Etiketak · Etiquetas

Artificial Intelligence automoción Basque Companies Basque company Basque Country Basque Culture Basque government Basque Industry BEC Bilbao BIND 4.0 Bizkaia Business CIC energiGUNE Emprendimiento empresa vasca Energy Energía entrepreneurship Europe Euskadi France health Iberdrola Industry innovación Innovation internacional internacionalización international internationalization Japan Lehendakari Mondragon University País Vasco science SPRI Group Startup startups sustainability Technology Tecnología UPV/EHU Urkullu USA
basque press isotipo transp
© 2025 BASQUE.press | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme