Sky-father

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

In Section 1 · The Genesis of the Worlds, or the Beginning of Newness, the Sun-father’s substance impregnated the great waters; their rising scums became Earth-mother and Sky-father, the All-covering Father-sky. In Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures, Sky-father and Earth-mother lay together, and their union conceived terrestrial life and all beings of earth. Earth-mother then repulsed him and separated from him in the waters above, but later sought his counsel while withholding her progeny from birth.

Earth-mother showed how foam could break into mist and spray, and Sky-father’s cold breath shattered it, bringing the fine spray down. He also spread his hand and set shining yellow corn-grains in its crevices to help and nourish their children.

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 Earth-mother
  • “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: Earth-mother
  • “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: Earth-mother
  • “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: Earth-mother
  • “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 foam and showed how clouds would bring life-giving rain.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • With: Earth-mother
  • “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!”
• Sky-father made shining grains to guide and nourish their children.(Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures)
  • “Yet not alone shalt thou helpful be unto our children, for behold! and he spread his hand abroad with the palm downward and into all the wrinkles and crevices thereof he set the semblance of shining yellow corn-grains;”

Section 2 · The Genesis of Men and the Creatures

• married with Earth-mother “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.