Cherokee Myth About the Sun

Oddly enough, Native American myth often followed some of the same ideas as European myth, albeit in a totally different way. They had myths about the creation, myths about the great flood, and even myths about Pandora's box. Of course, they didn't call it that and the story was markedly different. However, the concept remained the same.

According to Cherokee myth, the box resulted from the actions of the sun and the moon. Here is their version of Pandora's Box.

Unlike most popular cultures around the world, the Cherokee believed that the Sun was female, not male. She didn't like mankind because human beings always cursed her for her heat and squinted when they looked at her. They called her names when her rays destroyed the crops and threatened her when she did not allow the rain to refill their ponds and streams.

In contrast, mankind was much nicer to the moon. They smiled at her and made love under her watchful gaze. They even danced and sent sacrifices to thank her for cooling the heat of the sun's endless days.

Angry, the sun decided to punish mankind by shining even brighter than before. She caused a massive heat wave that destroyed everything in its path; food, water, plant life, animal life, and even the life of man himself.

The Cherokee, in panic, prayed for assistance to fight against the Sun. In response, the Creator sent spirit guides to earth to help.

The spirits turned themselves into snakes and lay in wait for the Sun as she came low to the earth to do her worst damage. But when they struck out at her, they missed and she continued on her way.

However, when the Sun sent her daughter down to earth to make certain that everything was destroyed as planned, the girl ran into the two snakes who bit her, as was their way. When the Sun discovered her daughter dead, she hid behind the clouds and refused to come out, making every day dark and cold.

Now the spirits knew they had made a mistake that must be corrected. Therefore, off they went off to bring the Moon down to the earth. They knew that her capture would appease the Sun so that she might once again shine.