The legend of alligator man tells the story of a man named Saul, who lived in the Plate, Magdalena (Colombia); This man was transformed into an alligator with the head of a man, when he used witchcraft to spy on women in the river while they were bathing.
Legend has it that in the town of Plate, Cupcake lived Saul Montenegro a happy and womanizing man, who liked to play the treble and serenading married women with a Victrola. It is said that he had lovers in different places and several of his teeth were made of gold. He was a fisherman, a profession that many members of his family practiced.
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Saúl had the horrible habit of spying on women while they were bathing in the Magdalena River in a channel called “Caño de las Mujeres”, he used to escape in the mornings to spy on them, it is said that one day he arrived in town saying that he would become an alligator thanks to two potions (one red and one white) that he won from an Indian in the mountains, but no one believed him.
Montenegro went to the river, there he smeared the red potion that transformed him into an alligator, he entered the waters and there he began to spy on the women while they were bathing until he finished satisfying his perversion, once he finished he headed towards the river. Puerto del Jabonal, where his friend “Felicito Triste” was waiting for him with the white potion that would make him human again, but he had the bad luck that his friend, upon seeing him transformed, got scared and dropped the potion, which broke against the stones. stones, letting just a few drops fall on his head, which was the only part that became human again.
His elderly mother used to visit him to bring him the food he liked the most, which was bread, cassava, serum and also bottles of Rum.
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It is said that Saúl adapted to his new reality and that he continued spying on the women in the river, but their husbands and fathers became angry at the situation that there was a half man and half alligator spying on their women, so they They armed themselves with shotguns and machetes to hunt him down. Given this fact, Saúl had to flee across the river towards mouths of ash (the mouth of the Magdalena River). Some claim that they have seen him lying on the banks of the river or on the roots of trees lamenting his fate.
Versions of the Legend of the Alligator Man
The legend of the Alligator Man, unlike many others, is a fairly solid legend, which does not usually have so many versions or variations that change the essence of it; However, there are small details that have changed over time; for example:
In some versions it is said that he did not win the potions but that Montenegro himself went to Guajira in order to ask an Indian shaman or witch to create said drinks for him; It is also said that he asked his mother to please go look for the witcher so that he could create another potion for him but unfortunately the witcher had already died by the time the mother managed to go look for him, his mother died from the sadness of her son being left behind. So.
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In other versions it is said that Montenegro transformed himself into an alligator many times with the help of a friend, but one day his friend could not help him so he asked another friend for help, who was the one who got scared and dropped the jar (container). and in other versions it is said that the caiman man returned to his town to dance cumbia, sing vallenatos and live with his people in his condition.
What does Alligator Man look like?
The Alligator Man is described as a large alligator with the head of a man, which often has a Vueltiao hat very typical in Colombian Caribbean coast, some stories describe him with black sunglasses and gold teeth that he had when he was completely human.
Origin of the Legend of “The Alligator Man”
The legend has its origin in the population of “Plate, Cupcake”, is a legend that is told by the fishermen of the area, it is said that the first person to document the legend or myth was Virgilio Di Filippo Meriño an office worker and sacristan, a recognized figure on the social scene of this city.
It is also stated that Virgil would have invented this story when he heard a woman from the town scream that a man had turned into an alligator in the river. At that time people would have run to see this event, but they found nothing, so Virgil from I created the story from this, and since at that time they called clever politicians and unfaithful men caiman, Virgilio would have based the story on a close relative of his wife who was entangled in a problem and he began to call him caiman, but this He threatened him not to use his name in said story or he would have problems with him, then Virgilio would have changed his name to Saul Montenegro, giving rise to one of the best-known legends and traditions of the Colombian Caribbean.
Where does Alligator Man appear?
The Alligator Man makes his appearances on the banks of the Magdalena river, from the population of “Plato – Magdalena”, to ash mouths in barranquilla, which is the mouth of the Magdalena River into the sea.
How to protect yourself from the Alligator Man?
The alligator man is not known for being violent, for this reason there is no method to protect yourself from him.
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Tributes and representations of the alligator man in Colombia
The alligator man has become a cultural symbol of the population of the dish – madeleine, so much so that the legend or myth is considered cultural heritage of the city.
There are several tributes that highlight the cultural importance of this legend, among them we find:
– Song “The caiman is gone”:
This song by composer José María Peñaranda tells how the legend arose and how it moved towards Barranquilla.
– Alligator Man Festival:
The Folkloric Festival of La Leyenda del Hombre Caimán was born in 1972 and is held during the month of December. It arises from the need to preserve the cultural values of the region and the culture developed around the Magdalena River.
– Square and Monument to the Alligator Man:
In Plato, Magdalena there are two sculptures in honor of the alligator man, one is located in a square in the center of the city and the other is located in the San Rafael park, where activities related to the festival of man are usually carried out. alligator.
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