Parallel Myths (19 page)

Prometheus knew that mortals would need fire in order for civilization to develop: Cooking, pottery, and metalwork all require fire. So Prometheus went to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, ostensibly to plead his case. However, he never spoke to Athena. He snuck into the palace of the gods through the back door, and when he came to the chariot of the sun, he stole some of the fire, concealing it in
a hollow fennel stalk. He then returned and gave the fire to humankind in direct violation of Zeus’s command.

When Zeus discovered the theft he was furious. Prior to the robbery, there had been only males among the humans. So Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the smith of the gods, to make a female human from clay. He made a beautiful woman, and Aphrodite gave her still more beauty and taught her charm. Athena gave her skills in cooking, weaving, and spinning, and other gods and goddess gave her still more gifts. Thus, she was called Pandora, meaning “all-gifted.”

It was Zeus’s intention to give Pandora to Prometheus as a “gift.” As a further gift, the gods sent a sealed clay jar with her. Prometheus advised his brother, Epimetheus, not to accept these gifts. But Epimetheus ignored him. Zeus punished Prometheus for warning his brother by having Prometheus chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains, where a vulture perpetually tore at his liver.

Alarmed by the horrible vengeance of Zeus, Epimetheus took Pandora as his wife. Pandora had been warned by Prometheus not to open the clay jar, but her curiosity got the better of her. Finally, she could bear it no longer; she opened the jar. Out flew every plague that has since oppressed mankind—greed, lust, sickness, old age, famine, and a host of others. Yet, there was one commodity left in the jar—hope. And as long as hope remains, we can bear all of the other ills that may befall us.

(Cherokee)

T
here was once a time, not long after the creation of the world, when humans and animals freely communicated. However, they did not remain on good terms for very long. The humans began to kill the animals for their furs and for food. It was easy to do at this time, as the animals were completely unprepared to be hunted and they walked up to human beings, trusting them. Then the animals became angry.

The tribe of the bear met in council, led by old White Bear. After several of the bears had voiced their complaints against the human beings, the entire tribe declared war on the humans. Once the angry crowd calmed down, White Bear told them that the human beings had a decided advantage—the spear, and the bow and arrow. So the bears decided to make their own weapons.

However, the bears had a problem: Their claws made it impossible to throw a spear. They couldn’t shoot arrows either, as their claws made it impossible to properly draw back on a bow. Some of the younger bears thought of cutting their claws, but White Bear told them that bears needed claws to climb trees and subdue their food.

Meanwhile, the deer were also angry and they too met, presided over by Little Deer. The deer, of course, are less violent creatures than are bears, so they did not consider making war on human beings. However, they resolved to use their magic: Thenceforth if a hunter wished to kill a deer, he must first ask permission of the spirit of Little Deer or else seek his pardon afterward. Any human hunter failing to do so would be stricken with rheumatism.

The fish and reptiles also met to discuss their future relationship with the humans. They decided to haunt mankind with terrible dreams of serpents. Only the Cherokee can banish such dreams with the help of a medicine man.

The birds and insects met in council; each of them named a disease they could spread among the humans.

The plants, however, thought that all of this was getting out of hand, pointing out that, since many of the animals themselves killed for food, they were wrong to be so sharp in their judgment. Since the plants are everywhere, they had overheard the councils of the bears, deer, fish and reptiles, birds and insects, and knew what diseases would be inflicted on humans. So each plant decided to act as a remedy for one of the diseases, and thus was medicine born.

(Kenya)

O
nce there was a youth named Murilé, whose mother incessantly nagged at him, criticizing him over every little thing. Nothing he did was ever right; even his best efforts brought snide remarks from her. Growing tired of this, Murilé borrowed his father’s stool, which had been in the family for countless generations. He sat on the stool and recited every magic incantation he knew. Suddenly the stool began to fly up off the earth in the direction of the moon.

When he landed on the moon, he came to a village and asked for directions to the home of the Moonchief. The villagers asked Murilé to work for them in exchange for the information. They came to like him and then told him how to get to his destination, and he went on his way.

When Murilé arrived at the village of the Moonchief, he was appalled at how backward the people there were. They knew nothing of fire; they ate their meat raw, had no pottery, and shivered at night from the cold. So Murilé took sticks and built a fire, which made him a great hero to the moon people and a favorite of the Moonchief. He was hailed as the greatest magician the people had ever known.

In recognition of his services, Murilé was showered with gifts and honors. The Moonchief and his subjects could not give Murilé enough cattle and wives. Every father wanted Murilé to marry his daughters.

Soon a very rich man with many cattle and wives, Murilé prepared to return to earth in triumph: Now his mother would see that her son had amounted to something. So he sent his friend, the mockingbird, to announce his imminent return to earth. However, Murilé’s family did not even believe their son was alive; they had given him up for dead long ago. When the mockingbird flew back to the moon with this report, Murilé could not believe that the mockingbird had spoken
to his family. So the mockingbird went back to Murilé’s earthly village and brought back his father’s walking stick as proof of the visit.

Finally convinced, Murilé prepared to return to earth. He dressed his wives and many children in their finest clothing and covered them with jewels. He had so much wealth to show off that his mother was sure to be impressed. With this great entourage to bring with him, Murilé could hardly travel back on the magic stool, so the entire party left on foot. Murilé became exhausted. One of his finest bulls told Murilé that he (the bull) would carry his master back to earth in exchange for a promise: that Murilé would never kill him and eat him. Murilé gladly consented.

The family of Murilé on earth were thrilled to see him and marveled at his wealth and fine new family. Even his mother rejoiced to have him home. Consistent with her character, she went about bragging to everyone of her rich and powerful son. Murilé made his parents swear never to harm the bull that had brought him home, and they agreed.

However, as time passed, the parents forgot their promise. After all, Murilé had so many cattle that they probably forgot which bull was which. So his parents killed the bull and Murilé’s mother prepared a dish seasoned with its fat and broth. As Murilé sat down to eat, the meat spoke to him, reminding him of the promise. As Murilé took the first taste of the bull’s meat, the earth swallowed him up.

(Iroquois)

T
here was once a great warrior named Nekumonta who was married to the beautiful Shanewis. During the winter when the snow was deep and food was scarce, a terrible plague struck the earliest people, and many died. Nekumonta watched as, one by one, all of his brothers and sisters and both of his parents perished. The plague
continued until Nekumonta, Shanewis, and a handful of villagers were the only ones left. But it looked as if the race of humans was going to die out, for Shanewis fell ill and lay near death, and many of the villagers complained of symptoms. Nekumonta could not bear to think that he would lose his wife and knew that, if he could save her, the human race could be preserved.

So Nekumonta prayed to the Great Spirit asking for guidance in finding the right herbs to save Shanewis’s life. Covering her with furs to keep her warm, Nekumonta set out to find a cure. He searched and searched for herbs in the deep snow, but found nothing. Exhausted, he fell asleep.

When he awoke, he continued for three more days, wandering over frozen lakes, through forests, and over hills without success. Then a little snowshoe rabbit appeared to him.

He asked the rabbit, “Where can I find the herbs planted by the Great Spirit, to save my wife and my people?” But the little rabbit just twitched his nose and hopped away.

Nekumonta then came to the den of a hibernating black bear and asked the bear for help. The sleepy bear just grunted and rolled over.

On the third night of his journey, Nekumonta himself began to feel ill and he fell to the ground in a deep sleep. All the birds and animals remembered his many kindnesses. Nekumonta had never killed an animal unless he really needed it for food and clothing. They remembered how he had honored the trees and flowers. As they looked on him, their hearts were overcome with compassion and they resolved to help him. The animals, trees, birds, and plants all cried to the Great Spirit on his behalf.

As Nekumonta slept, a message came to him from the Great Spirit. In his dream he saw the beautiful Shanewis, still ill, but singing a strange and beautiful song. Then he heard the sound of a waterfall. The waters now sang the same song, but the words were clearer: “Find us, Nekumonta, and your Shanewis will live!”

At this, the young warrior awoke with a start, the words still clear in his mind. He looked in all directions, but found no waterfall. Yet the singing of the waters continued.

Nekumonta frantically dug in the snow to find the waters. He began
to take sticks and rocks and dig into the frozen earth. He continued digging until he had dug a very large hole in the ground. Suddenly, a tiny stream began to bubble up into the hole. Soon the waters began to fill the hole, and waves of health and happiness overtook him. Moments after bathing in the waters, Nekumonta was refreshed, stronger than ever.

After raising his hands in thanks to the Great Spirit, he went back to the hole and took some clay to make a jar to carry the water back to his village. When Nekumonta returned to the village, he could see that he was just in time. The last remaining people were all very sick, and Shanewis herself was almost entering the land of shadows.

Shanewis was too weak to drink, so Nekumonta forced the healing waters between her lips. She then rose up, healthy and more beautiful than ever. The few remaining people also drank and were instantly healed. The plague was now gone and the people forever remembered Nekumonta as the one who saved the human race.