The Lamiak of the Basque Rivers
Beside Basque rivers, women with the feet of ducks sit combing their long hair with golden combs. Don't take the comb.
What was reported
In Basque folklore, the lamiak (singular lamia) are spirits who live near rivers, springs and caves. They look like beautiful women with long hair, but their feet are like a duck's or a goose's, or they have the tail of a fish. They're often seen combing their hair with golden combs by the water.
Lamiak could be helpful, building bridges and churches overnight, or helping farmers in exchange for food. But if someone stole a lamia's comb, she would chase them, and trouble followed. Several place names in the Basque Country are thought to come from them, including Lamiako, near Bilbao.
Explanations offered
The lamiak are among many water spirits in Basque mythology, which has deep roots in the region's pre-Christian beliefs. The stories may be linked to old ideas of sacred water and the spirits of particular places. They share their name with the Lamia of Greek myth, but are a separate tradition.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Lamiako, Leioa, Biscay, Spain
- Witnesses
- Basque folklore
- 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.
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