Tradition: Swiss Mythology
Alternative Names: Butatsch Cun Ilgs, Cow’s Stomach, Monster of Lüschersee
Category: Mollusc
The Myth
Butatsch Cun Ilgs, whose name means “Cow’s Stomach,” is a monstrous creature said to inhabit Lüschersee, a small alpine lake in Graubünden, Switzerland. According to legend, the lake reaches all the way to the center of the Earth, where eternal fires burn beneath its waters. The creature resembles an enormous cow’s stomach covered in thousands of eyes. These eyes possess hypnotic powers, and when they focus on a single point, they unleash flames so intense that they can melt bone.
Long ago, a group of cruel noblemen returned from an ibex hunt and found cattle and sheep grazing peacefully beside the lake. For amusement, they slaughtered the animals and drove the survivors into the water to drown, while the helpless shepherds watched. Suddenly, the lake began to foam and bubble, and Butatsch Cun Ilgs hauled itself onto the shore. Mesmerized by its countless eyes, the noblemen stood helpless as the enormous mass trampled and crushed them all. The creature then slipped back into the lake, leaving the shepherds terrified but unharmed. Its appearance became a tale of supernatural vengeance against those who abused their power and tormented the innocent.
Butatsch Cun Ilgs is said to have emerged from Lüschersee only three times, with a century separating each appearance. During its second emergence, it carved out the rapids of the Nolla River as it moved across the land. Its third appearance occurred during a terrifying thunderstorm, when it slithered through a stream, tore apart its banks, triggered massive landslides, and created deep ravines. This final manifestation became known as the starmentusa notg, or “Night of Terror.” The monster has not been seen since, but shepherds still claim that an eerie bellow sometimes rises above the lake’s quiet waters. When they hear it, they say, “The Lüschersee roars,” and hurry to bring in their hay.
Sources
“Butatsch Cun Ilgs.” A Book of Creatures, September 23, 2015. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/09/23/butatsch-cun-ilgs/