2. What are alayas?What are alayas?
A alaya is aA alaya is a
nymph who guardsnymph who guards
underwaterunderwater
treasurestreasures..
3. StoryStory
Thr ayalgues, ayalgas or chalgas in AsturiasThr ayalgues, ayalgas or chalgas in Asturias
are, properly, the treasures buriedare, properly, the treasures buried
underground but also by extension anunderground but also by extension an
ayalga is a mortal woman who undergoesayalga is a mortal woman who undergoes
a spell and is condemned to live in cavesa spell and is condemned to live in caves
filled with treasures, guarded, like xanes,filled with treasures, guarded, like xanes,
by cuélebres.by cuélebres.
4. StoryStory
The spell with which is condemned alsoThe spell with which is condemned also
offers certain supernatural powers and theoffers certain supernatural powers and the
power to get along with animals andpower to get along with animals and
plants. To break the spell a man must killplants. To break the spell a man must kill
the "cuélebre" that custodies the nymph, ifthe "cuélebre" that custodies the nymph, if
they do it, the ayalga becomes humanthey do it, the ayalga becomes human
again and marries the man, giving him theagain and marries the man, giving him the
treasure.treasure.
