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{{Short description|Spirit from Basque folk mythology}}
{{for|the restaurant|Aatxe (restaurant)}}
'''Aatxe''' ({{IPA-eu|a.atʃe|pron}}; a contraction of {{lang|eu|aratxe}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.euskaltzaindia.eus/index.php?option=com_oehberria&task=bilaketa&Itemid=413&lang=eu-ES&definizioak=0&query=aratxe&sarrera=124961 |title=aratxe |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia |publisher= [[Euskaltzaindia]] |access-date= 5 August 2022 |quote=}}</ref>) is a spirit in the folk [[Basque mythology|mythology]] of the [[Basque people]]. His name is literally translated as "Young Bull", and he is sometimes known as '''Etsai'''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns and Goblins|publisher=Norton|isbn=0-393-31792-7|chapter=A|year=1998|last=Rose|first=Carol|page=1}}</ref> He is a [[cave]]-dwelling spirit who adopts the form of a young red bull, but being a [[shapeshifter]], sometimes takes the shape of a man.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=0-00-720873-1|year=2005|last=Matthews|first=John & Caitlin|page=5}}</ref> At night, more so in stormy weather, he arises from the hollow which is his lair. He attacks criminals and other malevolent people. He also protects people by making them stay home when danger is near.
He is theorized to be a representative of the goddess [[Mari (goddess)|Mari]], or may be an enforcer of her will, punishing people who cheat her. Another name for him is Aatxegorri which means "young red bull". It is believed Aatxe inhabited caves and hollows; in many ([[Isturits]], [[Sare, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Sare]], [[Errenteria]], among others) engravings and paintings depicting aurochs, bulls, and oxen have been found; which implies that this Basque myth has its origins in the Paleolithic.<ref>[http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/5626 Aatxe entry] at the Auñamendi Entziklopedia (in Basque)</ref>
==In popular culture==
Aatxe is used as the name of horned shadow monsters in the ''[[Guild Wars]]'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Bladed_Aatxe|title = Bladed Aatxe - Guild Wars Wiki (GWW)}}</ref>
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Basque mythology]]
[[Category:Basque legendary creatures]]
{{Europe-myth-stub}}