Horned Serpent

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For the tribe of werewolves in the World of Darkness setting, see Uktena (World of Darkness).

A Horned Serpent in a Barrier Canyon Style pictograph, Western San Rafael Swell region of Utah.

The Horned Serpent appears in the mythologies of many Native Americans.^[1] Details vary among tribes, with many of the stories associating the mystical figure with water, rain, lightning and/or thunder.

1 In traditional culture
- 1.1 Other known names
2 In popular culture
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] In traditional culture

Rock Art (Pony Hills and Cook's Peak TX)

The Horned Serpent was venerated, in various forms, by the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek, just to name a few. Some myths say it is invisible, or that it brought rain and made a noise similar to (but not the same as) thunder.^{[citation needed]}

Among the Eastern and Western Cherokee Indians, the horned serpent known as Uktena was venerated. Anthropologist James Mooney, describes it thus:

"Those who know say the Uktena is a great snake, as large around as a tree trunk, with horns on its head, and a bright blazing crest like a diamond on its forehead, and scales glowing like sparks of fire. It has rings or spots of color along its whole length, and can not be wounded except by shooting in the seventh spot from the head, because under this spot are its heart and its life. The blazing diamond is called Ulun'suti -- "Transparent" -- and he who can win it may become the greatest wonder worker of the tribe. But it is worth a man's life to attempt it, for whoever is seen by the Uktena is so dazed by the bright light that he runs toward the snake instead of trying to escape. As if this were not enough, the breath of the Uktena is so pestilential, that no living creature can survive should they inhale the tiniest bit of the foul air expelled by the Uktena. Even to see the Uktena asleep is death, not to the hunter himself, but to his family."

Horned serpents (rattlesnakes) tied together on a Mississippian sandstone plate from Alabama.

[edit] Other known names

Misi-kinepikw ("great snake") - Cree
Misi-ginebig ("great snake") - Anishininimowin
Mishi-ginebig ("great snake") - Ojibwemowin
Pita-skog ("great snake") - Abenaki
Sint Holo - Choctaw
Unktehi - Dakota

[edit] In popular culture

In the role-playing game Rifts, Uktena is not only a monstrous spirit of godlike stature but a rival to the Ondi Thunderbird and the Native Americans.

In the role-playing game Werewolf:The Apocalypse, Uktena is a godlike tribal totem to the Uktena tribe of werewolves.