Potosí, Bolivia (folk tale)

Lord of the Cerro Rico: El Tío

Folklore — not a documented case

In the silver mines of Cerro Rico in Potosí, Bolivia, miners both fear and revere El Tío, the lord of the underworld and protector of the mine.

Rising above the Bolivian city of Potosí, the Cerro Rico, the Rich Mountain, has been one of the world's most famous silver mines since colonial times. The miners who work its tunnels believe in El Tío, the Uncle, whom they regard as lord of the underworld. According to the tales, everything below ground belongs to him: he grants the veins of ore, and he also brings the accidents.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

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