Earth-mother

First appears: Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures

In Section 1, the Sun-father impregnated the great waters, and the scums that rose became Earth-mother and Sky-father. In Section 2, Earth-mother and Sky-father lay together, and their union conceived terrestrial life and all beings of earth. She then repulsed him, sinking into the waters below and separating from him above; she withheld her progeny from birth while seeking his counsel.

Still in Section 2, Earth-mother made a terraced bowl of water to show how her children’s homes would be distinguished. She blew across its terraces, and the foam broke away and was shattered by Sky-father’s cold breath, falling as fine mist and spray.

Relationship record

Life events

• The Sun-father impregnated the great waters, and the scums that rose on them became Áwitelin Tsíta, the Four-fold Containing Mother-earth, and Ápoyan Tä´chu, the All-covering Father-sky.(Section 1 · The Genesis of the Worlds, or the Beginning of Newness)
  • With: Sun-father Sky-father
  • “With his substance of flesh (yépnane) outdrawn from the surface of his person, the Sun-father formed the seed-stuff of twain worlds, impregnating therewith the great waters, and lo! in the heat of his light these waters of the sea grew green and scums (k’yanashótsiyallawe) rose upon them, waxing wide and weighty until, behold! they became Áwitelin Tsíta, the ‘Four-fold Containing Mother-earth,’ and Ápoyan Tä´chu, the ‘All-covering Father-sky.’”
• Their union conceived terrestrial life and all beings of earth.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • With: Sky-father
  • “From the lying together of these twain upon the great world-waters, so vitalizing, terrestrial life was conceived; whence began all beings of earth, men and the creatures, in the Four-fold womb of the World (Áwiten Téhu‘hlnakwi).”
• Earth-mother repulsed Sky-father and separated from him.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • With: Sky-father
  • “Thereupon the Earth-mother repulsed the Sky-father, growing big and sinking deep into the embrace of the waters below, thus separating from the Sky-father in the embrace of the waters above.”
• Earth-mother withheld her progeny from birth and sought counsel with Sky-father.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • With: Sky-father
  • “As a woman forebodes evil for her first-born ere born, even so did the Earth-mother forebode, long withholding from birth her myriad progeny and meantime seeking counsel with the Sky-father.”
• Earth-mother made a terraced bowl of water to show how world-countries and places would be distinguished.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • “Behold! said the Earth-mother as a great terraced bowl appeared at hand and within it water, this is as upon me the homes of my tiny children shall be.”
• Earth-mother made foam and showed how clouds would bring life-giving rain.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • With: Sky-father
  • “Then with her warm breath she blew across the terraces; white flecks of the foam broke away, and, floating over above the water, were shattered by the cold breath of the Sky-father attending, and forthwith shed downward abundantly fine mist and spray!”

Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures

• married with Sky-father “From the lying together of these twain upon the great world-waters, so vitalizing, terrestrial life was conceived; whence began all beings of earth, men and the creatures, in the Four-fold womb of the World (Áwiten Téhu‘hlnakwi).”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of Outlines of Zuñi Creation Myths. Made with Rho MD.