Paíyatuma

Also known as: the God of Dew · Role: god of dew · First appears: Section 17 · The Generation of the Seed of Seeds, or the Origin of Corn · Part 2

In Section 17, Paíyatuma touched the plants with the refreshing breath of his flute, alongside Ténatsali and Kwélele. After the seven maidens and Kwélele disappeared into the morning mist, he declared that the seed growing from the plants was the gift of his maidens. The seven maidens are described as his foster-children.

In Section 60, the fathers of the House of Houses guessed that the music they had heard was Paíyatuma’s flute and those of his players. In Sections 63 and 65, he brought forth seven maidens called sisters of the Maidens of Corn, and later came down the river with his Flute people, singers and maidens of the Flute dance. The Maidens of the Dew danced, clouds flowing from their wands.

In Section 71, Pékwina the master, Speaker of the Sun, shifted two turkey plumes over Paíyatuma four times; Paíyatuma then grew grave and stood aged and grand. He said that the breath of reversal and speech of lying had been withdrawn from him, and promised to summon the beautiful maidens from Summerland. In Section 72, he sent butterflies and birds to seek the Maidens of Corn and greeted them with his song.

In Section 74, the Maidens of Corn returned with Paíyatuma to the place of the Middle, carrying their seed trays; they are also described as returning in their foster-father’s lead. In Section 75, his attendant Shútsuk‘ya signaled each consecration as Paíyatuma marked the regions and presented the Maidens’ seed trays to the priests. In Section 76, Paíyatuma returned with the lost Maidens, restored perfected generative seed to the people, and instructed them in the customs for perfecting it. In Section 77, he disappeared from human sight “in the gray mists of the morning.”