Native American mythology
Seneca mythology refers to themythology of theOnödowáʼga: (Seneca people), one of the six nations of theHaudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) from the northeasternUnited States and Canada.
Most Seneca stories were transmitted orally, and began to be written down in the nineteenth century. TheethnologistJeremiah Curtin began transcribing stories in 1883.[1] In 1923,Arthur C. Parker publishedSeneca Myths and Folk Tales. Parker identified eleven factors characterizing Seneca folklore:[2]: pp.3–5
- Spirits pervade all nature
- Good spirits are constantly making war upon evil spirits
- There is such a thing asorenda or magical power
- Any being possessing orenda may transform himself into any form
- All nature is conscious
- All living creatures have souls
- There is in the heaven world a Master of life and soul
- The spirits of departed men and animals wander over their familiar haunts
- Dreams are experiences of the soul as it leaves the body
- There are monsters that men seldom see
- There are such beings as wizards, witches and sorcerers
Parker classifies the stories into six groups: "When the World was New", "Boys who Defied Magic and Overcame it", "Tales of Love and Marriage", "Horror Tales of Cannibals and Sorcerers", "Tales of Talking Animals", and "Tales of Giants, Pygmies, and Monster Bears".
Some important figures in Seneca mythology are:
- Eagentci (Awëha:'i—Fertile Earth[2]), whose name translates as "ancient-bodied one", is the Earth-mother, or First Mother. Her Huron name is Atahensic.
- Djieien was a man-sized spider who survived most attacks because its heart was buried underground. He appears in the tale "Hagowanen and Otʿhegwenhda" and others.[1]: pp.376–388
- Djodi'kwado' (Jotéhkwatöh) is a horned serpent. He features in the stories "The Horned Serpent Runs Away with a Girl",[2]: pp.218–222 and "The Great Serpent and the Young Wife".[2]: pp.223–227 Horned Snake "is a monster serpent of the underwaters and his head is adorned with antlers of great spread.... He is capable of transforming himself to the appearance of a man, and as such delights in luring maidens to his abode. In a few instances he appears as the gallant rescuer of women marooned on bewitched islands."[2]: pp.17–18
- Dagwanoenyent is a vicious northern witch who is depicted as a whirlwind. Her child's father killed her.
- Gaasyendietha is a fire-breathing dragon that inhabits Lake Ontario. In human form he appears in "The Trials and Death of Inchworm",[1]: pp.96–105 "Grandfather and Grandson and an Eagle Woman",[1]: pp.116–121 "Tree Worm and his Mother-in-law, Barkworm",[1]: pp.146–151 "Flying-Squirrel and the Seasons",[1]: pp.258–271 among others.
- Hagondes is a cannibalistictrickster and clown spirit.
- Kaakwha (alsoKanawha) is the solar deity and god of light and truth, subordinate toHawenniyo, a fertility god.
- Dahdahwat are animals who appear in dreams and visions.
- Gagqa (Gá'ga:') is the crow spirit.
- Awaeh Tegendji (or Yegondji)—"Swan Mother"—is an old woman who lives with her three beautiful daughters. She appears in "The Story of the Girls Who Went for a Husband".[1]: pp.166–168
- Gijesa are spirits of the night sky.
- Hadowe are the Iroquois' equivalent of Dryads.
- Nyá'kwaehe:h is a giant hairless bear. Members of the Dewanondiisso:daik'ta:h (Pygmy Society) include the bones of Nyá'kwaehe:h in their charm bundles.[3] He appears in the tales "How a Boy outwitted a Nyá'kwaehe:h",[2]: pp.344–348 "Nyá'kwaehe:h, the Mammoth Bear",[2]: pp.349–357 and "The Boy and the Nyá'kwaehe:h",[2]: pp.358–364 and others. He "is the most feared of magic beasts and one of the most frequent among them to enter in to the fortunes of men. He loves to race and in various forms which he assumes, seeks to get men, and particularly boys, to bet their lives on the race, which generally lasts from sunrise to sunset. He has a vulnerable spot on the bottom of one of his feet and unless some hero hits this the monster does not die."[2]: p.18
