Átahsaia

DemonUnited States · North AmericaLegendFear 8/10

Description

A demon from the folklore of United States. Átahsaia (alternatively spelled A'tahsaia or Atasaya) is a giant cannibalistic demon in the…

The Legend

Átahsaia is a giant cannibal demon from the mythology of the Zuni people in the American Southwest. He is described as being several times larger than an ordinary human, and in one story, it is said that his shoulders are so massive that he cannot easily enter a cave that an ordinary human can. In another tale, his torso is said to be as large as a big elk, and he is depicted as having long gray hair and thick-skinned hands. In various stories, he is illustrated with bulging eyes that do not blink, yellow fangs protruding from his mouth, and long claws. Átahsaia, as a cannibal, craves not only the flesh of other demons but also that of humans, and he possesses a personality that is constantly lying.

In Popular Culture

Átahsaia plays an important role in the spiritual dances of the Zuni people and is used to teach children the lesson of obedience. In Zuni tradition, a'doshlě represents 'Grandfather Spirit' and suukě represents 'Grandmother Spirit', symbolizing Átahsaia, and the elders of the tribe perform dances in these roles to scare children and instill the necessity of obedience. Recently, poet Janet K. Brennan wrote a poem about Átahsaia, in which the demon is depicted as a gentle giant catching fireflies.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Átahsaia" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia