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Padilha, Maria. Maria Padilha was a possibly mythical 19^th century Brazilian woman, or a possibly mythical 16^th century Spanish woman, or Maria Diaz de Padilla (1334-1361), the mistress of the King of Seville, who became known as an enchantress. The possibly mythical Padilha was a prostitute or courtesan. From the early part of the 20^th century Padilha appeared in Brazilian ballads, street stories, newspaper serials, films, television shows, and telenovelas as one of the primary incarnations of Pomba Gira, a Femme Fatale spirit of the Afro-Brazilian religions.

The fictional Maria Padilha, while incarnating Pomba Gira, is variously courtesan, prostitute, alluring, dangerous, a seductress, and transgressive, and ruins men’s lives and avenges the wrongs done to women.

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