Dreams of a black Canarian pig

Dreams of a black Canarian pig.

Painting inspired by the "Cueva del Agua" (Isora), Canary Island of El Hierro.

According to the chronicles of Abreu Galindo, the ancient inhabitants of the island (bimbaches) worshipped the "Aranfaybo". He was a mediator between the people and the gods. They walked the "Aranfaybo" so that he would intercede with the gods and they would send the much appreciated rain. During the magical-religious rite, the pig was taken out of the interior while men and women danced outside the cave to attract divine attention.

The Cueva del Agua has a shape in the rock that resembles the head of a pig (cochino) and is also full of Libyan-Berber panels with references to water. In addition, these panels receive direct sunlight as they are near the entrance of the cave, but the spiral-shaped writing is at the back and always remains in shadow. Perhaps with the intention of symbolizing the change and rebirth of Life. For me it has a sacred intention related to the birth of water.

Based on this data, the latest research by specialists places this cave in Isora as the place where the mediator lived, and not the one that until now was believed to be located in Valverde.

Finding out all this infomation seemed inspiring to me and i wanted to paint it to add to the "Dreams" collection of the island of El Hierro.

https://www.alemontanez.com/en/galeria/general/suenos-de-lagarto-/