Tradition: Chorote mythology, Argentinian Mythology
Alternative Names: Siéhnam
Category: Deer
The Myth
Siéhnam is a terrifying deer that once brought terror to the Chorote people of Argentina. He attacked villages at night, appearing after midnight to hunt people.
Siéhnam killed his victims with his large antlers, stabbing them when he found them. If he discovered someone sleeping on their back, he would bite their throat. He killed four people every night, causing the Chorote to suffer terrible losses.
Eventually, the people became desperate and asked their shaman for help. They asked him, “What is it that comes at night?”
The shaman stayed awake and woke just before midnight. As the hour approached, he heard Siéhnam coming. When the deer appeared, the shaman confronted him: “Now I have caught you! I thought it was someone else, but it was you. You and I will fight!”
The shaman and Siéhnam fought, until eventually the shaman threw the deer to the ground. After this defeat, Siéhnam never returned.
The following day, the shaman brought the good news to the village. He told the people that they could now sleep peacefully, believing that the creature that had been tormenting them would not come back.
Sources
Countess Sica. “Siéhnam.” A Book of Creatures. February 8, 2021. https://abookofcreatures.com/2021/02/08/siehnam/