We purchased this red-striped manta from Sebastiana Calani Varges, who
told us that it comes from Potosí. It’s named after El Tío, the lord of the
underworld, and an especially important deity in the mining community of Potosí.
Statues of the devilish-looking El Tío populate the tunnels of Potosí’s
mines. A mercurial god, El Tio offers miners protection, but if he’s not
brought enough alcohol, cigarettes, and coca leaves, he’ll turn agains...
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Statues of the devilish-looking El Tío populate the tunnels of Potosí’s
mines. A mercurial god, El Tio offers miners protection, but if he’s not
brought enough alcohol, cigarettes, and coca leaves, he’ll turn against you in
less time than it takes to say, “It’s caving in!” With the consequences of El
Tio’s dissatisfaction in mind, Potosí residents are known to take the extra
precaution of ritually slaughtering a lamb in the fickle God’s honor, and smearing
its blood over the entrance to the mine.
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