Spider Woman

Also known as: Nastsé Estsán / the Spider Woman · Role: teacher · First appears: Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 3

In Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 3, Spider Woman gave Nayénezgani and To`badzistsíni a charm to preserve their lives on the journey to their father, Tsóhanoai, and taught them words to subdue their enemies. In Part 4, Nayénezgani used her sacred words to calm the bears guarding the Sun’s house; in Part 7, her life-feather preserved him from a fatal fall.

In The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 3, as Nastsé Estsán, Spider Woman invited Kinníki into her house and asked him to bring new plumes from the Eagles. She gave him a cane and instructions for dealing with tumble-weeds and bees. In Part 4, Kinníki brought her the plumes, and she thanked him for helping her and the Eagles, calling him “my grandchild.”

Relationship record

Life events

• The Spider Woman gave the boys a charm and taught them a formula to subdue enemies and preserve their lives on their journey to their father.(Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 3)
  • With: Nayénezgani To`badzistsíni Tsóhanoai
  • “But I shall give you something to subdue your enemies and preserve your lives.” She gave them a charm called nayéatsos, or feather of the alien gods, which consisted of a hoop with two life-feathers (feathers plucked from a living eagle) attached, and another life-feather, hyiná biltsós, to preserve their existence. She taught them also this magic formula, which, if repeated to their enemies, would subdue their anger:”
• The elder brother used Spider Woman’s sacred words to calm the bears guarding the Sun’s house.(Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 4)
  • With: Nayénezgani To`badzistsíni
  • “but the elder boy repeated the sacred words the Spider Woman had taught him, and when he came to the last words, ‘Be still,’ the bears crouched down again and lay still.”
• Spider Woman's life-feather preserved Nayénezgani from the fatal fall.(Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 7 · 📍 Tsé`bitaï)
  • With: Nayénezgani
  • “This fall had killed all others who had dropped there; but Nayénezgani was preserved by the life-feather, the gift of Spider Woman, which he still kept.”
• Nastsé Estsán invited the Navaho into her house, and he descended the ladder.(The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 3)
  • With: Kinníki
  • “She invited him into her house, and he passed down the ladder.”
• Nastsé Estsán asked the Navaho to bring her new plumes from the Eagles.(The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 3)
  • With: Kinníki
  • “I want some new plumes to adorn my hoops, and you can get them for me.”
• Nastsé Estsán gave the Navaho a cane and instructions for dealing with tumble-weeds and bees.(The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 3)
  • With: Kinníki
  • “She gave him a long black cane and said: “With this you can gather the tumble-weeds into a pile, and then you can set them on fire.”
• The Navaho gave Spider Woman the plumes she wanted.(The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 4)
  • With: Kinníki
  • “He gave her the plumes and she said: ‘Thank you, my grandchild, you have brought me the plumes that I have long wanted to adorn my walls, and you have done a great service to your friends, the Eagles, because you have slain their enemies.’”

Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 3

• recipient: Nayénezgani “But I shall give you something to subdue your enemies and preserve your lives.”
• recipient: To`badzistsíni “But I shall give you something to subdue your enemies and preserve your lives.”
• pupil: Nayénezgani “She taught them also this magic formula, which, if repeated to their enemies, would subdue their anger:”
• pupil: To`badzistsíni “She taught them also this magic formula, which, if repeated to their enemies, would subdue their anger:”

Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 4

• pupil: Nayénezgani “but the elder boy repeated the sacred words the Spider Woman had taught him”

Origin Legend III: The War Gods · Part 7

• recipient: Nayénezgani “This fall had killed all others who had dropped there; but Nayénezgani was preserved by the life-feather, the gift of Spider Woman, which he still kept.”

The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 3

• recipient: Kinníki (She equips him with a cane and instructions for his journey.) “She gave him a long black cane and said: “With this you can gather the tumble-weeds into a pile, and then you can set them on fire.”

The Great Shell of Kintyél · Part 4

• friends with Kinníki “he did not forget the wishes of his friend, the Spider Woman”
• benefactor: Kinníki “He gave her the plumes and she said: ‘Thank you, my grandchild, you have brought me the plumes that I have long wanted to adorn my walls, and you have done a great service to your friends, the Eagles, because you have slain their enemies.’”

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Extracted from the original text of Navaho Legends. Made with Rho MD.