The tragedy of the giant race on the Canary Islands

Located off the northwest coast of Africa, the Canary Islands were a stopover for many sailors before crossing the Atlantic .

Isolated from mainland civilizations, this small island group developed its own unique culture, and the Guanches once made a strong mark here. Who were they, and were they really as giant as archaeologists reveal?

Where did the Guanches come from?

Painting depicts the Guanches with their semi-nomadic lifestyle on the Canary Islands.

Both Pliny the Elder (23 AD – 79 AD) and Strabo (63 BC – 23 AD), two famous Roman and Greek philosophers, mentioned the group of islands that are now known as the Canary Islands , but provided little detail about the society there, not even a population. The Arab geographer, Muhammad al-Idrisi, in 1150, wrote of his encounter with a tall race of 'light auburn hair' at a location roughly in the modern Canaries. And that is all there is to know about the Guanches…

The Guanches were the first known inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is believed that they arrived in the first millennium BC.

But when archaeologists discovered evidence of this culture, the first thing that struck them was not the artifacts or ruins, but the physique of the native people.

The Guanches were very large for their time, especially the height of the male members of the race, usually ranging from 1.75m to 1.90m. Some had blue eyes, blond hair and ruddy skin, showing strength and agility.

The Guanches survived for a long time until the 15th century, only to decline after the final battles against the Spanish conquest of the islands in 1496.

These tall, isolated inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean are believed to be related to the legendary continent of Atlantis, although much of this is speculation based on a few similarities.

In fact, the Guanches were also related to the Egyptians . They spoke a variety of languages ​​that evolved from the ancient Egyptians, which may partly explain the similarity in techniques between the Guanches and the Egyptians regarding the mummification process.

However, the exact origin of this light-skinned race is still a matter of debate among historians and archaeologists. Some researchers believe that they arrived in the Canary Islands by sea from North Africa and had close ties with the Berner tribes who occupied the North African continent for hundreds of years.

Given the Canary Islands' proximity to Morocco, it is possible that Berbers landed on the islands around AD 100. In 2017, the first whole-genome data from the Guanches confirmed their North African origins and that they are genetically most similar to ancient Berber peoples .

The Guanches are semi-nomadic and often live in caves carved into the mountains. Food is scarce and they live frugally, their diet consisting mainly of wild fruits and fish. On very special occasions, they will roast meat.

It was this simple way of life that allowed them to survive and thrive in challenging conditions. We have no records from the Guanches themselves, beyond what can be found on the arid lands of the Canaries.

Culture is destroyed

Statue of the two Guanches on the island of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

The peaceful life of the Guanches was turned upside down in 1402 with the arrival of the Spanish. In the following century, members of the race fought valiantly against the invaders to protect their land but were ultimately defeated.

Their unique culture and way of life were destroyed by the Spanish, and many members of the race died from diseases brought by the invaders.

Some were enslaved and taken to Spain. Members of the remaining race eventually adopted the lifestyle of the new rulers, gradually assimilating into the Spanish people.

After colonizing the islands, the Spanish provided evidence of the Guanches' religion. They were polytheistic and accepted the existence of a higher power (whose name varied between the islands) and the presence of demons .

The gods and goddesses worshiped by the people differed from island to island. Each place created different ceramic statues to represent their gods.

The people have a unique system of religious and spiritual beliefs. They believe in the afterlife and the existence of souls. They have a complex concept of the invisible world, including their own ideas of heaven and hell.

Although most traces of them have been lost to time, the Guanches are remembered for their bravery in battle, their striking blond or red hair, and their height. The end of the race is considered one of the most tragic events in human history.