Queen Lupa (also known as Raíña Lupa, Raíña Lopa, Raíña Luparia, Raíña Luca and Raíña Loba) is a character from Galician mythologyCodex Calixtinus and the Golden Legend.[1]
. She is mentioned in both theA widowed noblewoman,[2] Galician tradition holds that Lupa lived along the Portuguese Way in Castro Lupario .[3] She appears in the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus, which contains a story regarding the arrival of the disciples of the Apostle James, Theodore and Athanasius, in Iria Flavia. According to the story, Theodore and his party approached the queen about giving them a place to bury James's body.[4] Lupa chose to trick the disciples and sent them to the King of Duio with the intent of having them killed. The king imprisons them, but they are freed by an angel and return to the queen.[5]
Once again, Lupa tried deceiving them and sent them to Mount Ilicino (now known as "Pico Sacro") to collect some of her oxen to carry the necessary material to build the tomb. She did not tell them that a cave in the mountain was the entrance to hell and was guarded by a dragon. However, the presence of the holy cross protected the disciples from harm and tamed the bulls.[6][7][2] Upon witnessing the miraculous events, Lupa converted to Christianity and helps build the apostle's tomb in Libredon.[6]
Lupa's legacy is subject to multiple interpretations. While her myth is popular among Catholics, others think that Lupa could be the representation of a pre-Christian goddess, perhaps the female version of Lugh.[8] In the Middle Ages, portions of the Galician aristocracy claimed to descend from her.[9]