Chiloé creation myth

The origin of the Chiloean archipelago lies in a fierce battle between two serpents, "Ten Ten-Vilu" (ten="earth", vilu="snake") and "Coi Coi-Vilu" (Co="water", vilu="snake").

Legend

The Ten Ten-Vilu is the goddess of Earth and Fertility, with a generous spirit and protecter of all earth's life, creator of the flora and fauna and according to some myths of Chiloé, everything she has created has flourished, including mankind.

Coi Coi-Vilu is the goddess of Water and the origin of all that inhabits it and is the enemy of terrestrial life, animal and vegetal.

According to this myth, thousands of years ago, what is now the Chiloé Province was once one contiguous landmass with continental Chile. One day a monstrous serpent appeared inundating the lowlands, valleys, and mountains, submerging all the flora and fauna. Without delay, Ten Ten-Vilu appeared to start a confrontation with her enemy, elevating the land and protecting it from disaster. The battle persisted a long time. Ten Ten-Vilu reached a costly victory, she won the battle, but was unable to restore the land to its primavel state leaving it in its desmembered form which perdures til today.

At the end of the hostilities Coi Coi-Vilu left as her representative and owner of all the seas, the king Millalobo ("Millalonco"), who was conceived during the invasion when a beautiful woman fell in love with a sea lion.

This legend of the grand mass of the island describes the new region formed of water and earth and delineates the marine life style of Chiloé.