¿Tara es el nombre de una diosa canaria?

Es el nombre popular de la figura conservada en El Museo Canario y hace referencia a un poblado de Telde al que se atribuyó su procedencia. No permite identificar a una diosa concreta ni conocer el nombre que la figura recibía en época prehispánica.

¿Tengo que ser de Canarias para llevar el Ídolo de Tara?

Puedes elegirlo por un vínculo con Gran Canaria, por un recuerdo de viaje o porque te atrae su silueta. Conocer la referencia cultural ayuda a explicar tu elección sin tener que atribuirle un significado religioso.

¿Es un regalo para alguien que quiere ser madre?

Puede tener un sentido personal si sabes que esa persona lo relaciona con la maternidad. No conviene dar por hecho ese deseo ni presentarlo como una ayuda para concebir. También puede regalarse sencillamente como recuerdo de Gran Canaria.

¿El color dorado o plateado cambia su significado?

En los modelos de joyería, el color cambia el aspecto de la pieza y cómo combina con otros accesorios. Elige el tono que te guste entre las opciones que permita seleccionar la ficha; no hay motivo para asignarle por el color una función antigua diferente.

Tara Idol: Meaning and Jewelry

September 17, 2026 Autor: Equipo editorial de Cotigo

Collar plateado con silueta del Ídolo de Tara, joya contemporánea de Cotigo

From the pre-Hispanic heritage of Gran Canaria to contemporary jewelry: learn to recognize the Tara Idol and how to choose a piece linked to the island.

Última revisión editorial: September 13, 2026

Quick reply

The Idol of Tara is a pre-Hispanic female figure from Gran Canaria preserved in El Museo Canario. Its connection to fertility is an interpretation; the exact location of its discovery is unknown. In jewelry, it can express a personal connection to the island.

A long neck, rounded arms, and a wide base are all it takes to recognize the Tara Idol in many pieces of Canarian jewelry. Wearing it can express a bond with Gran Canaria, serve as a memento of a trip, or bring you closer to its heritage. Here, you will find the keys to identifying the figure and choosing between a necklace, bracelet, or earrings.

What the Tara Idol represents

This popular name refers to a female human ceramic figure from the pre-Hispanic period of Gran Canaria, housed in El Museo Canario under inventory number 2,899. It is depicted in a seated position with crossed legs, characterized by its elongated neck and the volume of its biceps and thighs. The surface still retains reddish ochre paint.

The original piece has depth, facial details, and traces of where the arms were once attached, which are no longer present. In contemporary pendants, these features are simplified into a flat outline.

View the photograph and study of figure 2,899 from El Museo Canario (PDF).

Why it is called Tara and where it was found

Tara is a village in Telde that became associated with the figure starting in the 1950s. However, the museum notes that older inventories only specify Gran Canaria. The name has become well-established, but it does not confirm the site of the discovery.

Gáldar has also been proposed as a possible origin, a hypothesis documented by CanariWiki, from the Government of the Canary Islands. The exact location, date, and circumstances of its discovery remain unknown.

Interpretation related to fertility

The emphasis on sexual attributes has led to these figures being associated with fertility. The 2018 study by El Museo Canario presents this traditional reading while also noting another possibility: figures of women linked to prenuptial fattening practices described in historical sources. These are interpretations of their meaning and function, not a definitive identification of a specific goddess.

This distinction also matters when it comes to jewelry. You may choose the motif because it evokes motherhood or a personal chapter in your life, but wearing it does not guarantee fertility or good luck.

Tara Idol and Pintadera: how to distinguish them

Both relate to the heritage of Gran Canaria and appear in jewelry, although they derive from different objects. Look first at whether the design represents a person or a geometric composition.

Tara Idol: a human figure

Traits to recognize it: a narrow neck, two rounded protrusions representing arms, and a broad base that evokes a seated posture. In Cotigo designs, the interior is smooth, and the figure is recognized by its silhouette.

Pintadera: a stamp with geometric motifs

Traits to recognize it: compositions of triangles, circles, or other lines inspired by archaeological stamps. The geometric drawing takes center stage rather than a human body.

You can compare their shapes in the guide to the Canarian pintadera.