the Pawnee people mythology
What's the religion about
Like many other Native American tribes, the Pawnee had a cosmology with elements of all
of nature
represented in it. They based many rituals in the four cardinal directions.
Pawnee priests conducted
ceremonies based on the sacred bundles that included various materials,
such as an ear of sacred corn,
with great symbolic value. These were used in many religious ceremonies
to maintain the balance
of nature and the Pawnee relationship with the gods and spirits. In the 1890s, already
in Oklahoma,
the people participated in the Ghost Dance movement
of nature
represented in it. They based many rituals in the four cardinal directions.
Pawnee priests conducted
ceremonies based on the sacred bundles that included various materials,
such as an ear of sacred corn,
with great symbolic value. These were used in many religious ceremonies
to maintain the balance
of nature and the Pawnee relationship with the gods and spirits. In the 1890s, already
in Oklahoma,
the people participated in the Ghost Dance movement
The Pawnee believed that the Morning Star and Evening Star gave birth to
the first Pawnee woman.
The first Pawnee man was the offspring of the union of the Moon and the Sun.
As they believed they were descendants of the stars, cosmology had a central role in
daily and spiritual life.
They planted their crops according to the position of the stars, which is
related to the appropriate time of
the season for planting.
the first Pawnee woman.
The first Pawnee man was the offspring of the union of the Moon and the Sun.
As they believed they were descendants of the stars, cosmology had a central role in
daily and spiritual life.
They planted their crops according to the position of the stars, which is
related to the appropriate time of
the season for planting.
The ghost dance
The Ghost Dance was a new religious movement incorporated into numerous Native American belief
systems. According to the teachings of the Northern Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka (renamed Jack Wilson),
proper practice of the dance would reunite the living with spirits of the dead, bring the spirits to fight on
their behalf, make the white colonists leave and bring peace, prosperity, and unity to Native American
people throughout the region.
systems. According to the teachings of the Northern Paiute spiritual leader Wovoka (renamed Jack Wilson),
proper practice of the dance would reunite the living with spirits of the dead, bring the spirits to fight on
their behalf, make the white colonists leave and bring peace, prosperity, and unity to Native American
people throughout the region.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a9/Sioux_ghost_dance%2C_
1894.ogv/Sioux_ghost_dance%2C_1894.ogv.240p.vp9.webm
1894.ogv/Sioux_ghost_dance%2C_1894.ogv.240p.vp9.webm
The morning star ritual
practiced human sacrifice, specifically of captive girls, in the "Morning Star ritual".
They continued this practice regularly
through the 1810s and possibly after 1838 – the last reported sacrifice.
They believed the longstanding rite ensured the fertility of the soil and success of the crops,
as well as the renewal of all life in spring and triumphs on the battlefields.
The sacrifice was related to the belief that the first human being was a girl,
born of the mating of the Morning Star, the male figure of light, and the unwilling Evening Star,
a female figure of darkness, in their creation story.
They continued this practice regularly
through the 1810s and possibly after 1838 – the last reported sacrifice.
They believed the longstanding rite ensured the fertility of the soil and success of the crops,
as well as the renewal of all life in spring and triumphs on the battlefields.
The sacrifice was related to the belief that the first human being was a girl,
born of the mating of the Morning Star, the male figure of light, and the unwilling Evening Star,
a female figure of darkness, in their creation story.
The identity of the Morning Star is not clear. "The earliest accounts specified Venus as Morning Star,
while most ethnographers favored Mars", given it was said to be red. Jupiter is also a candidate.
while most ethnographers favored Mars", given it was said to be red. Jupiter is also a candidate.
The ceremony was performed in spring, but usually not as an actual human sacrifice, but merely
as a symbolic ceremony. However, one source states, "Several or more years frequently elapsed
between occurrences of the Morning Star Ceremony". An actual human sacrifice would be performed
only when a man of the village dreamed that the Morning Star had come to him and told him to perform
the proper ceremony. He would then consult with the keeper of the Morning Star bundle, receiving from
him a warrior costume. At the first instruction, both the visionary and the priest would cry, knowing that
the mission put upon them by the Morning Star was wrong to carry out. The man, aided by volunteers,
then had to carry out an attack on an enemy village and capture a girl of a suitable age.
as a symbolic ceremony. However, one source states, "Several or more years frequently elapsed
between occurrences of the Morning Star Ceremony". An actual human sacrifice would be performed
only when a man of the village dreamed that the Morning Star had come to him and told him to perform
the proper ceremony. He would then consult with the keeper of the Morning Star bundle, receiving from
him a warrior costume. At the first instruction, both the visionary and the priest would cry, knowing that
the mission put upon them by the Morning Star was wrong to carry out. The man, aided by volunteers,
then had to carry out an attack on an enemy village and capture a girl of a suitable age.
Returning to the village, the captured girl would be handed over to the servant (priest) of the Morning Star.
The people in contact with the girl treated her with respect but kept her isolated from the rest of the tribe.
When it was time for the spring sacrifice, she was ritually cleansed.
A five-day ceremony then began with the priest singing songs describing the advancing stages
in the rite, and the girl was symbolically transformed from human to celestial form, as the ritual
representation of the Evening Star. On the final day of the ceremony, a procession of men,
boys and male infants carried by their mothers accompanied the girl outside the village to a scaffold.
The scaffold was made of sacred woods and skins, representing "Evening Star's garden in the west,
the source of all animal and plant life."
The people in contact with the girl treated her with respect but kept her isolated from the rest of the tribe.
When it was time for the spring sacrifice, she was ritually cleansed.
A five-day ceremony then began with the priest singing songs describing the advancing stages
in the rite, and the girl was symbolically transformed from human to celestial form, as the ritual
representation of the Evening Star. On the final day of the ceremony, a procession of men,
boys and male infants carried by their mothers accompanied the girl outside the village to a scaffold.
The scaffold was made of sacred woods and skins, representing "Evening Star's garden in the west,
the source of all animal and plant life."
Anthropologist Ralph Linton reported that evidence indicated the practice
"was carried out somewhat unwillingly" by Pawnee religious leaders,
who regarded it as an obligation or duty and took no pleasure from the practice.
The priests removed her clothing and she was left alone on the scaffold at the moment of the rising
of the Morning Star (Mars). Symbolizing the Morning Star and his fireballs, two men would come
from the east and touch flaming branches to her armpits and groin. She would then be touched with war
clubs by four other men. A sacred arrow from the Skull bundle was shot through her heart by the man
who captured her while simultaneously another man struck her over the head with the war club from
the Morning Star bundle. The dead girl's chest would then be cut open by the priest with a flint knife
while her captor caught her blood on dried meat. ("A very small cut is made ... The heart is not exposed
or removed.") All male members of the tribe would then press forward and shoot arrows into the dead
body, then circle the scaffold four times and disperse.
"was carried out somewhat unwillingly" by Pawnee religious leaders,
who regarded it as an obligation or duty and took no pleasure from the practice.
The priests removed her clothing and she was left alone on the scaffold at the moment of the rising
of the Morning Star (Mars). Symbolizing the Morning Star and his fireballs, two men would come
from the east and touch flaming branches to her armpits and groin. She would then be touched with war
clubs by four other men. A sacred arrow from the Skull bundle was shot through her heart by the man
who captured her while simultaneously another man struck her over the head with the war club from
the Morning Star bundle. The dead girl's chest would then be cut open by the priest with a flint knife
while her captor caught her blood on dried meat. ("A very small cut is made ... The heart is not exposed
or removed.") All male members of the tribe would then press forward and shoot arrows into the dead
body, then circle the scaffold four times and disperse.
By shooting arrows into her body, the village men, as embodiments of Morning Star, were symbolically
mating with her. Her blood would drip down from the scaffolding and onto the ground which had been
made to represent the Evening Star's garden of all plant and animal life. They took her body and lay
the girl face down on the prairie, where her blood would enter the earth and fertilize the ground.
The spirit of the Evening Star was released and ceremony ensured the Skidi Pawnee participants
of the success of the crops, all life on the Plains, and the perpetuation of the Universe.
mating with her. Her blood would drip down from the scaffolding and onto the ground which had been
made to represent the Evening Star's garden of all plant and animal life. They took her body and lay
the girl face down on the prairie, where her blood would enter the earth and fertilize the ground.
The spirit of the Evening Star was released and ceremony ensured the Skidi Pawnee participants
of the success of the crops, all life on the Plains, and the perpetuation of the Universe.
Gods
Atius Tirawa, which means "Father Above" in the Pawnee language (often translated, inaccurately,
as "Great Spirit"), was the creator god. Other terms used, and perhaps most used, are Tirawahat or
Tirawahut. He was believed to have taught the Pawnee people tattooing, fire-building, hunting,
agriculture, speech and clothing, religious rituals (including the use of tobacco and sacred bundles),
and sacrifices. He was associated with most natural phenomena, including stars and planets, wind,
lightning, rain, and thunder. The wife of Tirawa was Atira, goddess of the Earth. Atira
(literally, Mother Corn) was associated with corn.
as "Great Spirit"), was the creator god. Other terms used, and perhaps most used, are Tirawahat or
Tirawahut. He was believed to have taught the Pawnee people tattooing, fire-building, hunting,
agriculture, speech and clothing, religious rituals (including the use of tobacco and sacred bundles),
and sacrifices. He was associated with most natural phenomena, including stars and planets, wind,
lightning, rain, and thunder. The wife of Tirawa was Atira, goddess of the Earth. Atira
(literally, Mother Corn) was associated with corn.
The male Morning Star in the East was believed to be created first.
Being the war god he wore the dress of a warrior. After him came the female Evening Star in the West.
She resisted the divine plan to create humankind. Morning Star had to fight and overcome several forces
in the western sky with his fireball to finally mate with her. The first human beings thus created was a girl.
Being the war god he wore the dress of a warrior. After him came the female Evening Star in the West.
She resisted the divine plan to create humankind. Morning Star had to fight and overcome several forces
in the western sky with his fireball to finally mate with her. The first human beings thus created was a girl.
Six major stars represented other gods controlled by Tirawahut. Two of them were the female Southwest
and Northwest Stars. The male stars were the North, Northeast, Southeast and South Stars.
Some had specific tasks to fulfill:
and Northwest Stars. The male stars were the North, Northeast, Southeast and South Stars.
Some had specific tasks to fulfill:
- The North Star was the son of South Star. He watched over the people and had to keep his post.
- Northeast Star (or Big Black Meteoric Star) controlled the animals, in particular, the bison.
- He was also in charge of the shift from day to night. According to some Skidis, this unidentified and
- enigmatic star was a buffalo bull carrying the heavens on his back. The mythology of the
- South Bands does not mention this god at all and only a number of the other star gods
- Southeast Star (or Red Star) regulated the coming of day and had authority among the animals.
- South Star rose sometimes on the heaven to see if his son (North Star) remained on his fixed
- position. South Star ruled in the land of the dead. He received no prayers and no ceremony was
- held in his name. Paths in the Milky Way guided the dead human beings to his dominion.
The Thunder, the Lightning, the Cloud, and the Wind were four great powers in the west.
They obeyed the Evening Star. Using constant song they generated the Earth on which the first girl
(the child of Evening and Morning Stars) was placed.
They obeyed the Evening Star. Using constant song they generated the Earth on which the first girl
(the child of Evening and Morning Stars) was placed.
The solar and lunar deities were Shakuru and Pah, respectively.
They were the last of all gods placed in the heavens. Their offspring was a boy, and he was put on Earth,
too. Aside from this, the Sun and the Moon are of relatively minor standing in the
Skidi Pawnee mythology.
They were the last of all gods placed in the heavens. Their offspring was a boy, and he was put on Earth,
too. Aside from this, the Sun and the Moon are of relatively minor standing in the
Skidi Pawnee mythology.
Meteorites brought good fortune to the finders. They were seen as the children of
Tirawahut sent down to Earth
Tirawahut sent down to Earth
While the Skidi Pawnee relied a great deal on the powers and the aid of stars and other objects
in the cosmos, the South Bands came through foremost by the assistance
and advice of several animals. Yet, the gods in heaven existed, and the animals acted as go-betweens
when they instructed and guided the South Bands.
in the cosmos, the South Bands came through foremost by the assistance
and advice of several animals. Yet, the gods in heaven existed, and the animals acted as go-betweens
when they instructed and guided the South Bands.
Spirit animals
The White Beaver ceremony of the Chawi served nearly the same purpose as the renewing or
restarting Spring Awakening ceremony (Thunder ceremony) of the Skidi. However hibernating
animals were revitalized through this rite rather than the renewal of corn crops.
restarting Spring Awakening ceremony (Thunder ceremony) of the Skidi. However hibernating
animals were revitalized through this rite rather than the renewal of corn crops.
Tirawa conferred miraculous powers on certain animals. These spirit animals, the nahurac,
would act as Tirawa's messengers and servants and could intercede with him on behalf of the
Pawnee. The nahurac had five dwellings or lodges:
would act as Tirawa's messengers and servants and could intercede with him on behalf of the
Pawnee. The nahurac had five dwellings or lodges:
- The foremost among them was Pahuk, usually translated "hill island",
- a bluff on the south side of the Platte River, near the town of Cedar Bluffs
- in present-day Saunders County, Nebraska.
- Lalawakohtito, or "dark island", was an island in the Platte near Central City, Nebraska.
- Ahkawitakol, or "white bank" was on the Loup River opposite the mouth of the
- Cedar River in what is now Nance County, Nebraska.
- Kitzawitzuk, translated "water on a bank", also known to the Pawnee as Pahowa, was a spring
- on the Solomon River near Glen Elder, Kansas. It now lies beneath the waters of the
- Waconda Reservoir.
- The fifth lodge of the nahurac was known to the Pawnee as Pahur (/pa'hur/, translated as
- "hill that points the way" or "guide rock").
want to know more about the mythology visit https://www.jstor.org/stable/533298?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents to learn more
Comments
Post a Comment