| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Fomagata or Cacique Rabón[1] |
| Grouping | cacique |
| Sub grouping | zaque |
| Similar entities | Goranchacha Tutazúa (brother) |
| Folklore | Muisca mythology |
| Origin | |
| Country | Muisca Confederation |
| Region | Altiplano Cundiboyacense Colombia |
| Habitat | Hunza |
Thomagata orFomagata was amythicalcacique who was said to have beenzaque ofHunza, present-day Tunja,Colombia, then part of theMuisca Confederation. He is remembered as one of the mostreligious in the history of thezaques, afterIdacansás.[1]
In the centuries before the arrival of theSpanishconquistadors, the central highlands of Colombia were ruled byzaques (northernMuisca Confederation) andzipas (southern territories of theMuisca). The first confirmed humanzaque andzipa were respectivelyHunzahúa andMeicuchuca, inaugurated in 1450. The time before those rulers are based onFolklore.
Thomagata allegedly had atail, as that of ajaguar that reached to the ground, hence the nameCacique Rabón ("Taily Chief"). Thomagata had four ears and only one eye because he was blind on the other.[1]
Thomagata was asaint, traveling each night between Tunja and theTemple of the Sun inSugamuxi along theIraka Valley. His walks were apilgrimage, ten times back and forth, praying in the sacred sites he encountered on his way. Muisca traditions tell he was so holy that whom he made angry, he converted into asnake,lizard or other animal. Thomagata got this ability from Idacansás and theSun.[1]
Thomagata looked upon hisvassals with disrespect and turned them into animals, so the Muisca didn't dare look him in the face.Zaque Tomaghata never married.[2]
BishopLucas Fernández de Piedrahita, chronicler of most of the Muisca mythology and traditions, wrote in the 17th century about Thomagata:[2]
...habiéndose inclinado en su mocedad al matrimonio y queriéndolo efectuar, reconoció que estaba inhabilitado para ello porque desagradado el Sol de semejante pretensión y empeñado en que le sucediese en el reino Tutazúa, su hermano, lo despojó la noche antes de la potencia germinativa, por lo cual vivió toda la vida en celibato y después de ciento y tantos años murió...
translated as
...having tended towards marriage in his youth and wanting to carry that out, he recognized that he was unable for that because the Sun was too ambitious and determined that Tutazúa, his brother, would succeed the reign of the zacazgo ["kingdom"], [the Sun] deprived him from his genital power so he lived all his life in celibacy and after more than 100 years he died...
Tutazúa succeeded Thomagata ascacique of Hunza. In theChibcha language Tutazúa means "son of the Sun".[2] The first confirmed humanzaque of the northern Muisca,Hunzahúa, is said to have descended from Thomagata.[3]
Thomagata Patera, avolcano onJupiter'smoonIo has been named after Thomagata.[4]
