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October 24, 2009
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:iconnoiry:
Media: Mechanical Pencil blue lead. Post-edition with PSCS3

Today I got a quite lovely request. I didn't get asked to draw anybody's character (thank goodness) but something related to my culture. It really made my day, I think it's such a beautiful thing to ask. I'm moved (it may seem a bit overreacted, but I'm really that emotive XD)

So I decided to draw something based in the mythology of my homeland, Asturias, in the northwest of Spain. It was once a celtic nation so it may have resemblances with other celtic myths.

The Xanas (les xanes, in asturian) are minor goddesses, sometimes considered fairies, that live near rivers and fountains of pure water. They're said to be inmensely beautiful and are frequently seen combing their long blond hair . They possess treasures that hid under water and may offer them to the men to gain some favours.
But these ladies are not exactly good, they can enchant people.
Xanas are protected by a giant winged snake called cuélebre, whose scales are really thick, so it's impossible to harm them. The only way to kill them is give them for meal red-hot stones or bread filled with pins.
They live in caves and near water ponds, also guarding treasures.
It's also said that cuélebres are in fact xanas under an enchantment.

So, now you have a different vision of Spain, it's not all bullfighting and flamenco XD


¡Qué bonita ye la mi tierra! 8D
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:icontlacuilopilo:
~tlacuilopilo Aug 7, 2012  Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Muy bueno! Asturias has one of the greatest mythologies out there.
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:iconyourpersonalsuccubus:
Love both the story and the picture. Thank you for sharing htis with us all. Beautiful job.
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:iconnefarusyul:
Sencillamente fantástico
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:iconpiercingemeralds2:
I read about these just today! I think it's so cool that you drew about Xanas!
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:iconlunnae:
~Lunnae Nov 7, 2011  Student General Artist
Ohhh, me encanta ^^ Desde niña he tenido una especie de obsesión extraña por la figura de la Xana, aunque nunca me la habría imaginado tan... ¿inocente? No sé xD Pero tenía entendido que a quieres "cuidaban" los cuélebres eran a las Ayalgas, que eran muchachas secuestradas y tal y tal..., no a las Xanas... siempre he asociado al cuélebre y a la Xana con leyendas distintas... =?
Pero me encanta ^^
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:iconwhitecucco:
This is beautiful :)
I just have been to Asturias for summer vacation, and I love it's mythology. ^^
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:iconjoselingering:
She looks so beautiful! And the dragon does as well! C:
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:iconsa-ellth:
Mood: Joy ~SA-ELLTH Mar 31, 2011  Hobbyist Interface Designer
i love it
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:iconmuirdolen:
Tanto la Xana como el cuelebre se ven increibles; buen trabajo
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:iconxmdz:
~xmdz Jan 4, 2011  Student Traditional Artist
Couldn't you just stab the cuelebre in the eye or mouth? Or maybe some explosives?
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