Tradition: Maya Mythology, Mexican Mythology
Alternative Names: Antivites, Alush
Category: Dwarf
The Myth
The Antivitamins are a race of tiny people said to live among human communities in Chontal Maya villages. They are described as small, mischievous beings and are considered a local variety of the Alush, the trickster dwarves known throughout Mexico and Central America.
The Antivitamins are believed to possess ancient knowledge and are associated with the supernatural world. Although they resemble little people, their behavior can be troublesome and unpredictable, and in later legends they are sometimes transformed into ordinary demons, forest spirits, or mischievous brownies.
They are said to have hair and large eyes, with their bodies covered in hair. Their appearance is that of small, hairy beings rather than ordinary humans, marking them as creatures of the supernatural world.
One story tells how a group of Antivitamins climbed the bell tower of a church and began ringing the bell. The unexpected noise frightened the bell-ringer, who became so startled that he fell and broke his leg. The tale presents the Antivitamins in their familiar role as troublesome little creatures whose mischief can have very real consequences for those who encounter them.
Sources
“Antivity.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed October 4, 2026.
https://www.bestiary.us/antivity
