Iara (mythology)

Common card · No. 402230

Iara, also spelled Uiara, Yara or Hiara (Portuguese pronunciation: [iˈaɾɐ], [wiˈaɾɐ], [ujˈaɾɐ]) or Mãe das Águas ([ˌmɐ̃j̃ dɐz ˈaɡwɐs], "mother of the waters"), is a figure from Brazilian mythology based on Tupi and Guaraní mythology. The Iara may have developed from the lore of the carnivorous fish-man Ipupiara. Conflation with the European myth of the siren, or a beautiful mermaid probably is part of the Iara myth as the seductress of the Amazon River. Some commentators believe the original version of Iara must have been dark-skinned and black-haired, black-eyed, like the indigenous populations. However the Iara in the 19th century were described as blonde and blue-eyed or green-eyed, or even green haired.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Newton Cavalcanti, Public domain