San Martin Txiki
Trickster who stole farming secrets and invented the saw.
San Martin Txiki ("Little Saint Martin") is a trickster figure from Basque mythology, also known as Martintxiki or Samartitxiki. He is notable for stealing agricultural secrets from the Basajaunak (lords of the woods) and for inventing the first saws, modeled after chestnut leaves. He also appears in Aragonese mythology in the valleys of Tena, Ansó and Broto under the name San Martinico.
- mythology
- Basque (also Aragonese)
- also_known_as
- Martintxiki, Samartitxiki, San Martinico
- known_for
- Stealing planting, sowing, and harvesting secrets; inventing saws
- associated_figures
- Thor and Loki (Norse mythology)
- associated_creatures
- Basajaunak (lords of the woods)
Lore & Background
San Martin Txiki is best known for bringing wheat seeds to humans. According to legend, the Basajaunak kept all the wheat for themselves. San Martin Txiki bet them he could jump over a pile of wheat seeds without touching it. The Basajaunak jumped over easily, but San Martin Txiki fell into the pile. He had worn large shoes that day, and collected some wheat seeds in them when he fell. The Basajaunak were so busy laughing that they did not notice, and he brought the seeds back to humans.
He also obtained the secret of soldering from the Basajaunak by having a servant tell them he had already figured it out. The Basajaunak revealed how it was done, and the servant relayed the information. He gained knowledge of making saws in a similar manner: the Basajaunak asked his servant if he had been inspired by the shape of chestnut leaves. The servant told him, and San Martin Txiki was then able to make a saw. Angered, the Basajaunak went to his workshop and bent the teeth of the saw in an attempt to break it, but this only made it stronger.
Reader's Guide
San Martin Txiki occupies a significant place in Basque mythology as a culture hero who obtained essential knowledge for human survival through trickery. His theft of wheat seeds and agricultural techniques from the Basajaunak mirrors similar myths worldwide where a clever figure outwits powerful beings to benefit humanity. The invention of the saw, modeled on chestnut leaves, shows a connection between nature and human craft. His stories share structural similarities with Norse myths involving Thor and Loki tricking the Jötunn, suggesting cross-cultural patterns in folklore. The fact that he appears in Aragonese mythology under the name San Martinico indicates the spread of Basque cultural influence into neighboring regions. His enduring legacy lies in representing human ingenuity and the value of cunning over brute strength, as well as explaining the origins of essential tools and farming practices.
Did You Know?
- Txiki means 'little' in an affectionate sense and is pronounced 'cheeky'.
- He stole the secrets of planting, sowing, and harvesting from the Basajaunak.
- He invented the first saws by modeling them after the edges of chestnut leaves.
- He also appears in Aragonese mythology under the name San Martinico.
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