2. NATURE BEINGS.
The Sun, among the nature gods, is recognized by the Seneca as a powerful being. Yet, unlike the gods in other theogenies, the Sun is a creation made after the formation of the world,—at least so it would appear from the common cosmogeny. Sun was created from the face of the earth-mother, yet it may be that her face was the sacrifice that brought the Sun into evidence. There is evidence of attempts to conceal the origin of the sun in several of the myths. He appears as the messenger of the Sky Chief and as the special god of war, Ho‘sgĕn’age‘´dăgōwā. He also appears as existing before the birth of the primal twins, and it appears that he is the being who sat on the mountain “to the east across the sea,” and who gave power to the Good Mind, or T’hahonhiawă’´kon. It thus appears there is an imperfect assimilation of conflicting myths, probably from different sources.
THE SPIRIT OF DIONHEKON
In this drawing the spirit of the food plants is shown touching the shoulder of Handsome Lake, the Seneca Prophet. Drawing by Jesse Cornplanter.
Each day the Sun starts from his resting place in the branches of the celestial tree, takes his path under the lifted east sky, rolls up the dome and commences his unerring watch of the movements of men. Wherever there is light, there is the messenger of the Sky Chief watching human behaviour. Returning at night, he recites all that he has observed on earth.
He bears the name Endĕ´ka Gää‘´kwă, Diurnal Orb of Light.
The Moon is Soi‘´ka Gää‘´kwă, Nocturnal Orb of Light, and she is hailed as “Our Grandmother.” In each of her several phases she has a different name and function. She is watched by the females as a sign of health, and by the men as a sign of hunting luck. By the Moon time is regulated, and each monthly moon has a special name. Of all heavenly bodies she is the most mysterious, though not the most powerful.
Morning Star, Gĕndeñ´wit‘hă, is one of the great beings of the sky and her appearance is watched as an omen. It appears that once Morning Star was an important celestial personage, but the Iroquois have drifted away from giving her special honors. She appears in several rolls, sometimes as a siren who lures hunters into a luckless marriage, mysteriously leaving them to wander the world over in search of her. She appears to have charmed an elk into loving her, and also as a rescuer of starving villages in time of famine. She is called Gadjĭ‘son´dă’ gĕndeñ´wit‘hă’.
THE FLYING HEAD OF THE WIND
This is the whirlwind or Dagwanoeient. Drawing by Jesse Cornplanter.