Tradition: Spanish Mythology
Alternative Names: La Encantá, Mora Encantada
Category: Nymph
The Myth
La Encantada, meaning “the Enchanted Woman,” is a mysterious female figure found in legends throughout Spain. She usually appears as a beautiful young woman with long hair, combing it with a golden comb near a cave, spring, river, or ancient castle. Her appearance is especially associated with the night of Saint John, celebrated on June 23, and the early hours of June 24. Those who encounter her may become enchanted themselves, drawn into a supernatural mystery whose outcome depends on their choices.
La Encantada is closely related to several female supernatural beings from the folklore of the Iberian Peninsula, including the Galician and Portuguese mouras, the Basque Mari, the Cantabrian anjanas, and the Asturian xanas. Although their stories differ between regions, they share recurring themes of extraordinary beauty, hidden places, magical treasures, and enchantments. Their resemblance to other European and even Mexican legendary figures has also prompted speculation about the great antiquity and possible transmission of these traditions.
Many places across Spain bear names connected to the Encantada or the Mora Encantada. These names frequently occur near caves, unusual rock formations, springs, and archaeological remains. Despite the apparent association with the period of Muslim rule, some of these locations preserve traditions connected to much older settlements and cultural memories.
One legend comes from Aketegi in the Basque Country, where a shepherd approaches a terrifying cave said to be inhabited by Mari. The mysterious woman is believed to appear at the entrance to comb her beautiful hair. In other versions, the encounter becomes a test in which a passer-by must choose between the maiden herself, her comb, or another object she offers.
At Baza, in Granada, a dark-haired woman with exceptionally long hair is said to appear at sunrise on Saint John’s Day among the caves of Terrera de los Argálvez. One morning, she confronts a man with a golden comb in one hand and a dagger in the other, asking him which he desires. When he chooses the dagger, she curses him, declaring that it will pierce his soul because he has kept her enchanted for so long.
Another tragic story comes from Benamor, near Moratalla. Princess Ordelina was engaged to marry a nobleman named Sigiberto, but she broke her promise shortly before the wedding and married his rival, Hiliberto, instead. Their marriage took place on Saint John’s Eve, but Ordelina died suddenly at midnight before it could be consummated. Because she had broken her oath, her soul was condemned to wander in suffering. Each year, on Saint John’s Eve, she could leave her grave and appear beside the Benamor stream to comb her long hair.
At Coy, a Moorish princess dressed in white emerges from the Cave of La Encantá on Saint John’s Eve. She combs her hair and washes her face at a nearby spring. Her appearance once frightened local inhabitants so greatly that they avoided going outside on that night, fearing that they too might fall under her enchantment.
A similar maiden was said to appear near the Camareta cave in Hellín during the early hours of June 24. With long blonde hair and a golden comb, she sat upon a stone and asked passers-by whether they preferred her or the comb. When a shepherd chose the comb, she lamented that she would remain enchanted because of his answer.
The legends of La Encantada also include stories of lost love. Near La Pedriza in Madrid, the Cave of the Moor recalls the tale of a wealthy Arab’s daughter who fell in love with a young Christian knight. Her Muslim relatives imprisoned her inside the cave, separating her from the man she loved. Years passed, but the knight never returned. According to local tradition, the young woman’s restless spirit still wanders among the rocks, searching for her lost beloved.
Across these stories, La Encantada embodies beauty, longing, broken promises, and supernatural punishment. Her golden comb and mysterious appearances have become recurring symbols of Spanish folklore, while her association with Saint John’s Eve connects her to a night traditionally regarded as a time when the boundaries between the ordinary world and the supernatural grow thin.
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Legend of la Encantada. In Wikipedia, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_la_Encantada