In Yoruba syncretism ( Santería ), Saint Michael the Archangel is primarily associated with Elegguá , the Orisha who opens and closes paths, due to his role as a warrior who fights and clears the way, although he is sometimes seen as a manifestation of Oggún (god of iron and war) because of the symbolism of the sword and combat, but the strongest connection is with Elegguá, who is also syncretized with Saint Anthony or the Child of Atocha, showing the versatility of syncretism to represent the functions of the orisha.