Spirits of the Deep: Belém's Batuque

Seth and Ruth Leacock's 1972 study Spirits of the Deep described Batuque, an Afro-Brazilian religion of Belém in which mediums are possessed by encantados, spirits from enchanted realms under rivers and the sea.

1972 CE · -1.44, -48.47 · status: account

The account

The encantados include Turkish princes, noblemen and caboclo spirits; possession heals and advises. Batuque links Amazon spirit lore to the African-derived Mina tradition of Maranhão.

Connections in the atlas

• Bates hears of the shape-shifting boto
• Saints and visagens of Itá

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Encantado (mythology)