LEGEND OR MYTH THE DORADO

This Colombian legend is one of the best known for its connection with the conquest of America. The Spanish conquerors sought a country famous for its legendary untold riches (El Dorado). The origin of this belief lies in the consecration ceremony of the new Zipas.

In the beautiful country of Muiscas, long ago, everything was ready for an event: the coronation of the new Zipa, governor and chieftain.

 The Guatavita, natural scenery and sacred event looked calm and crystalline surface like a giant emerald, set among beautiful hills. The slopes, with dense ferns, golden buttons showed Chisacá, chusques twisted as triumphal arches, sietecueros and fragrant berries. The digital, like a beautiful bunch of bells, purple-tinged landscape, dandelion, which fragile bubble, the wind tossed their tiny parachutes to perpetuate the miracle of its preservation and abutilones of bright red and yellow concert amounted to natural beauty, the tiny, iridescent hummingbird, its permanent guest.

Great excitement reigned in Bacatá Zipa housing, the entire population would attend the unique event in jubilant procession to the sacred lake wearing shiny gold jewelry, emeralds, artistically exquisite pottery and woven blankets, to offer to Chibchacum, their supreme god, the goddess of the waters, and his new sovereign Badini.

The women had prepared in advance abundant meal of golden ears and wine ferment extracted from corn with which celebrated all the major events of his life. Everything would be transported in vessels of different shapes and sizes, with patience and dedication made by potters Ráquira, Tinjacá and Tocancipá and also woven palm baskets.

Finally, the big day arrived. The young heir with his entourage, composed of priests, warriors and nobility, led the procession. Serene and majestic, her body showed strong harmonious proportions for war, his tan skin had a certain pallor, a result of rigorous fast she had undertaken to purify your body and soul and to implore the gods and justice, goodness and wisdom to govern his people.

They marched to the sound of rhythmic drums, the fotutos and snails. Slowly, they went away from the hills and surrounded by the Zipas, to approximate the Guatavita splendid. There, with joyous songs, the crowd gathered to witness the magnificent spectacle.

 The priest, dressed in sober robes and multicolored feathers, silenced the population with an energetic movement of his outstretched arms. Coppery skin and lean meats for the prolonged fasting, the priest was feared and revered by the people was the mediator between men and gods, who performed the offerings and prayers and who cured the ills of the body with their prayers and support magical plant.

The future Zipa was stripped of his clothes and his body smeared with turpentine, sticky substance, to be set in gold dust that covered them constantly.
 
Not a sound was heard, was that the solemnity of the moment, you only hear the croaking of frogs, animals sacred to them, the chirping of birds and the fast running of the deer.

The anointed seemed a golden statue: his splendid body carefully covered with the noble metal, reflections dismissed when touched by the sun's rays. When he had finished coating, leading up to the court on a large oval raft, made entirely in gold Guatavita goldsmiths.

The raft slid gently into the center of the lagoon. That's when, after invoking the goddess of waters and protecting gods, the heir plunged into the depths, spent a few seconds in which only saw water circles where it had sunk, all the people gasped , time seemed to stop, finally emerged triumphant and solemn the new monarch, the ritual bath, he consecrated him as chief.

Cheers and chants accompanied his appearance and one by one, the subjects threw their offerings to the lagoon: gold figures, bracelets, crowns, necklaces, pins, chest, hollow vessels with human forms, full of emeralds, pitchers and jugs mud. The chief, in turn, together with his entourage, made generous offers of the same materials, but more of them.

The raft returned to shore amid the general clamor. They now had a new boss, who should rule according to the wise rules and legislator Nemequene legendary predecessor, based on love and skill at work and handicrafts, in the courage and honor during the war, on honesty, justice and discipline.

Began racing games and competitions, the winner was rewarded with beautiful blankets. They sang and danced for three days, which were devoted to the celebration. The sounds of drums and whistles echoed in the mountains and hundreds of Indians continued the pace in calm and rhythmic dances, or frantic and crazy.

 After a day of festivities, drink and food plentiful, the people returned to their daily activities: farmers to continue watching and tending their crops; gold artisans, to work in gold, the potters, the making pots and vases, after searching the mud right in special streaks, others to exploit the salt mines and emeralds, and most trade because it was their main activity. Women caring for children, to reap the harvest, to cook, to spin and weave.

Thus, in this order and the days elapse placidity, until war, disease or old age, deprived of their monarch and was again required Dorado ceremony to anoint a new chief. This should continue to govern with prudence and wisdom of the village green and fertile country, surrounded by lush vegetation and crystal clear streams.