Tradition / Region: Belize Mythology
Alternate Names: Stone Woman
Category: Ghost
The Myth
The Stone Woman is a ghost said to haunt the ancient Maya site of Xunantunich in Belize. She appears as a woman dressed entirely in white, with fiery red eyes that glow against her pale clothing. Her presence is most often reported near El Castillo, the great stone structure at the site. She approaches the building, climbs its steep staircase, and disappears into a wall near the top, vanishing as mysteriously as she appeared.
The ghost’s name, Stone Woman, comes from this haunting legend. Rather than remaining hidden among the ruins, she appears openly before witnesses before ascending the ancient temple. Her sudden disappearance into solid stone makes her a particularly unsettling presence among the ruins of Xunantunich.
Sources
Belize Travel Blog contributors. (2016, November). Belize Folklore Legends – Finados Edition. In Belize Travel Blog, from https://belize-travel-blog.chaacreek.com/2016/11/belize-folklore-finados/