The Basajaun
In the Basque mountains, shepherds tell of the Basajaun, a giant, hairy lord of the woods who protects the flocks.
What was reported
In Basque mythology, the basajaun, 'lord of the forest', is a giant, hairy, human-like being who lives in caves and forests high in the Pyrenees and Basque mountains. He protects flocks of sheep, warning shepherds of coming storms or wolves by shouting from the hills.
Some legends say the basajaun taught humans to farm, forge metal and make saws, after the knowledge was tricked from him.
Explanations offered
The basajaun is a figure of folklore, among the oldest in Europe. Some writers have compared him to wild-man legends elsewhere, such as the yeti. The Basque mountains are still farmed by shepherds today.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Gorbeia, Basque Country, Spain
- Witnesses
- Basque tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.