Kurupi
Guaraní mythological figure with an elongated penis and backward feet.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Kurupi (also spelled Curupi or Kurupí) is a figure in Guaraní mythology, one of the seven monstrous children of Tau and Kerana. He is feared as an abductor and rapist of women, and is known particularly for an elongated penis that can wind once or several times around the waist or torso, or wrap around his arms. The curupí is one of the most widespread myths in the region of Guaraní-speaking cultures.
- mythology
- Guaraní
- known_for
- Elongated penis, abduction of women, protector of nature
- parents
- Tau and Kerana
- siblings
- Teju Jagua, Mbói Tu'ĩ, Moñái, Jasy Jatere, Ao Ao, Luison
- other_names
- Curupi, Kurupí
- region
- Guaraní-speaking cultures (Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina)
Lore & Background
Kurupi is one of seven monstrous children born to the evil spirit Tau and Kerana, daughter of Marangatú, after only seven months of gestation. His most distinctive feature is a penis that can wrap once around the waist, as attested in a 1793 diary by explorer Juan Francisco Aguirre, who received secondhand information from Friar Henrique Ruano. Ruano allegedly witnessed captured Curupis among the Mbayá people, describing them as pygmies with extraordinary genitals: the male member extended once around the waist and reached the front. The modern Paraguayan variety is said to be short or small-bodied, ugly, hairy or naked, with backward-pointing feet that confuse trackers and lead humans into thickets. Some sources give it bronze-tanned skin, black eyes, straight hair, scaly skin, large ears, or a body without joints. It is also regarded as a protector of nature.
Reader's Guide
Kurupi's significance lies in his role as a scapegoat for unwanted pregnancies and as a symbol of male virility and danger in Guaraní culture. He is blamed for impregnating sleeping women by extending his prehensile penis through doors or windows, and children fathered by him were expected to be small, ugly, and hairy. The legend has faded in modern times, but it persists as a cautionary tale for young girls. The creature is also associated with the Guaraní ritual of curuzú-yeguá, where decorated crosses and phallic-shaped breads may represent Kurupi. Parallels exist with other Guaraní spirits like Pombero and Jasy Jatere, and with the Kurupi of the Guianas, which has a large scrotum and backward feet. The name may derive from 'Curú-piré' meaning 'pimply-skinned.'
Did You Know?
- Kurupi is one of seven monstrous children of Tau and Kerana, born after only seven months of gestation.
- The earliest recorded mention of Kurupi is from a 1793 diary by explorer Juan Francisco Aguirre, based on secondhand testimony from Friar Henrique Ruano.
- Some Guaraní informants describe Kurupi as having the power of invisibility and using his penis as a lasso to kidnap women and children.
- Among the Paï-Cayuä people, Kurupi is not a phallic figure but a guardian of wild beasts, while a related spirit called Mboguá Vusú has a large penis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kurupi?
Kurupi is a monstrous figure in Guaraní mythology, listed as one of the seven children born to the pair Tau and Kerana. He is best known across Guaraní-speaking regions as a feared entity associated with the abduction of women.
What physical traits make Kurupi distinctive?
Kurupi is depicted with backward-facing feet, a hallmark of the 'back-footed beings' in this tradition. His most notorious attribute is an elongated penis that can coil one or several times around a person's torso or wrap around his own arms.
Who are Kurupi's siblings?
As one of seven offspring of Tau and Kerana, Kurupi shares a family with Teju Jagua, Mbói Tu'ĩ, Moñái, Jasy Jatere, Ao Ao, and Luison. Together they form a group of monstrous children within Guaraní myth.
What role does Kurupi play in Guaraní culture?
Beyond his reputation as a woman-abductor, Kurupi is also regarded as a guardian of nature and the forest. He is considered one of the most widely recognized figures in Guaraní oral tradition.
In which regions is the Kurupi legend found?
The myth of Kurupi (also spelled Curupi or Kurupí) is pervasive across Guaraní-speaking communities in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. It is regarded as one of the most broadly shared narratives in that cultural sphere.
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