page_title: Talamancan mythology
section_title: Mythological figures
hierarchical_section_title: Talamancan mythology / Mythological figures
caption_attribution_description: Español: Figura de oro articulada en tres secciones, que representa a Sibú, máximo dios de los bribri, con máscara de ave. Las figuras de oro articuladas son únicas de Costa Rica y exclusivas en la metalurgia del continente americano. Pacífico Sur, 700-1550 d.C. 14.7 x 12 cm. Museo del Oro Precolombino, San José, Costa Rica. English: Gold pendant shaped in human form with bird mask, articled in three pieces, resembling Sibö, major Bribri deitie. Such articulated metal pieces are only found in Costa Rica, and are uniqued within the metallurgy of Americas. South Pacific Costa Rica, 700-1550 AC. 14,7 x 12 cm. Museo del Oro Precolombino, San Jose, Costa Rica.
context_page_description: Talamancan mythology includes the traditional beliefs of the Bribri and Cabécar, two groups of indigenous peoples in Costa Rica living in the Talamanca region. These peoples speak two different but closely related languages, and from a cultural point of view, constitute a single community. With some exceptions, they share the same religious beliefs, the same stories, the same ritual songs, etc.
context_section_description: Sibú or Sibö - primary deity, creator of the earth and humans, Wak (owner/guardian) of the indigenous people.
  Shulákama or Shula'kma - King of the Serpents. Venomous snakes are considered his arrows.
  Itso' - helper or peón of Sibú
  Sórkura or SórkuLa - grandfather (in some sources, grand-uncle) of Sibú
  Sìitami - mother of Sibú
  Sibökõmõ - father of Sibú
  Nãmãitãmĩ, also called Tapir - Sibú's sister, mother of Irìria
  Irìria, also called Sulára, la Niña Tierra, or tapir girl - Sibú's niece
  Sulá - father of Irìria, lord of the underworld
  Bikakra - grandmother of Irìria
  Tsuru' - Sibú's wife, goddess of cacao
  Bulumia - Sibú's cousin, wife of Shulákama
  Sérke - Wak of the Animals, personification of the wind
  Duarö - servant of Sérke, who protects animals if people kill unnecessarily
  MnuLtmi, also Duluitami - female personification of the sea
  ChbekoL - a giant snake that ate people who broke the laws against incest
  Dukur Bulú - vampire bat who helped Sibú' create humans
  Káchabuké - a poisonous frog
  Hurricane Children
  Talá Yekela - god of thunder, father of the Hurricane Children
  Dalàbulu - sun god
  Dìnamu - aquatic feline monster that eats people trying to cross a river
caption: Gold figure of Sibú with head of an eagle. Museo del Oro Precolombino, San Jose, Costa Rica.
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