America land of Serpents скачать в хорошем качестве

America land of Serpents

The Horned Serpent is a major figure in North American mythology, appearing in the stories of many Indigenous cultures across the United States and Canada, particularly in the Eastern Woodlands, Great Lakes, and Plains. While the Mesoamerican Plumed Serpent (Quetzalcoatl) represents the union of earth and sky (snake + bird), the North American Horned Serpent is almost exclusively a spirit of the Water and the Underworld. Here is the history and mythology of the Horned Serpent: 1. The Ancient Rivalry: Thunder vs. Water In many traditions (such as the Ojibwe, Algonquin, and Haudenosaunee), the world is balanced by a massive, eternal war between two great powers: The Thunderbirds (Sky): They represent the upper world, fire, and order. They create lightning to hunt their mortal enemies. The Horned Serpents (Water/Underworld): They represent the lower world, deep lakes, caves, and chaos. They hide deep underwater to escape the lightning. This duality explains weather phenomena: storms are often viewed as the Thunderbirds hunting the Serpents who are trying to surface. 2. Physical Appearance Unlike the feathered Mesoamerican gods, these creatures are generally described as: Massive Snakes: Often big enough to eat humans or capsize canoes. Horns or Antlers: They possess the horns of a deer or elk, signifying their magical power. Scales: Sometimes described as shining like copper or flint. The Crystal: In some legends (especially Cherokee), they have a blazing diamond or crystal (the Ulunsuti) embedded in their forehead. 3. Specific Cultural Figures While the archetype is widespread, different nations have specific names and histories for this being: The Uktena (Cherokee) Perhaps the most famous version. The history of the Uktena is specific: Origin: It was not born, but made. In the myth, a man was transformed into the Uktena by the "Little People" to kill the Sun, who was sending down too much heat. The plan failed, and the serpent became so angry and venomous it had to be banished to the high mountain passes and deep pools. The Diamond: It bears a transparent crystal on its forehead. A warrior who manages to kill the Uktena and retrieve the crystal gains immense power of foresight, but the gaze of the serpent is deadly. Mishi-Ginebig (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe) Translating roughly to "Great Serpent," these beings dwell in the Great Lakes. History: They are often associated with the copper deposits found around Lake Superior. They were seen as guardians of these resources but were dangerous to travelers. Pictographs: You can still see ancient rock paintings (pictographs) of these horned serpents at sites like Agawa Rock in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario. Unktehi (Lakota) In the Plains traditions, the Unktehi are water monsters that resemble horned reptiles or oxen. The Flood: Legend says they caused a great primeval flood to kill humans, but the Thunderbirds fought them back and dried the land, saving humanity. Their fossilized bones (likely dinosaur fossils found in the Badlands) are said to be the remains of this ancient battle. 4. Archaeological History (The Mississippian Culture) Historically, we know this belief is very ancient because of artifacts from the Mississippian culture (roughly 800 CE – 1600 CE), known as the Mound Builders. The Rattlesnake Disk: Artifacts found at Moundville (Alabama) and Spiro Mounds (Oklahoma) depict "Great Serpents" with horns and wings. The Underwater Panther: Often, the Horned Serpent overlaps with another figure called the Mishipeshu or "Underwater Panther," a cat-lizard-snake hybrid that rules the rivers. Summary of Differences | Feature | Plumed Serpent (Mesoamerica) | Horned Serpent (North America) | |---|---|---| | Element | Sky & Wind (Bird/Snake) | Water & Underworld (Deer/Snake) | | Role | Creator Deity, Civilizer | Guardian, Monster, Source of Magic | | Temperament | Wise, benevolent (mostly) | Dangerous, chaotic, fearsome | | Main Rival | Tezcatlipoca (Jaguar) | The Thunderbirds | Would you like to know more about the "Great War" myths between the Thunderbirds and the Serpents?