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Inuit Mythology Inuit mythology is different from the rest of world mythologies in one main way Inuit people believe in it as if it were a religion. All in all, it can be called a combination of shamanism and animism as far as Inuit people believe that everything on Earth has its soul. The basis of their mythology is first of all formed by three main figures: the Sun, the Moon and the Sea. The Sun and the Moon are very much connected in Inuit mythology as well as in real life. The Sun goddess, Malina, is believed to be the Moon gods sister. According to the myth, Malina and her brother Anningan grew up together and used to play games but things changed as they became older one night as they played in the dark, Anningan raped his sister.
Malina tried to push him away; they started to fight and accidentally overturned a seal-oil lamp. Malina's hands were all dirty and she spread the dirt all over her brothers face and ran away far to the skies and became the Sun. Her brother chased her and became the Moon. From time to time the Moon manages to catch the Sun and rape her, causing solar eclipse. The Moon god is so much obsessed with the idea to catch his sister that he even forgets to it, thats why he becomes thinner and thinner day by day. Once in a month he disappears for three days to have meals but always returns to chase his sister this is the Inuit explanation of the phases of the Moon.
The Sun and the Moon hate each other as well as people of the opposite sex. That is why it is considered incorrect if men go out during the solar eclipse and women during the lunar eclipse. The spirit of the sea is very important in Inuit mythology as well as the people depend on the sea for food and they believe that the success of their hunting depends on the unpredictable mood of the spirit of the sea Sedna. As described in myths, Sedna was a young girl, who refused to marry anyone and was forced to marry a dog in punishment. When she gave birth to her five children, her father, who arranged the marriage, felt sorry for her and drowned the dog. Poor Sedna was unable to support her children without their father, so she left them and started living with her parents.
Once a bird disguised as a man sought Sedna in marriage. She started living with him, but when she discovered her husband was a fulmar, she decided to leave with her father in a boat. The bird chased them and caused a terrible storm with its wings. Terrified, Sedna's father tried to throw the girl overboard to her husband, but she grasped the boat's side. Then the man started cutting away the girls fingers and joints until she fell into the sea.
There she lives together with her first husband, fishes and seals, which were created from her fingers and her father, who was swept out into the sea. One more important spirit of Inuit myths is Nanook, also known as the Polar Bear. The Bear is the most powerful spirit among all the animals, but at that he has many human qualities. He is moody, as well as Sedna. He controls the success of bear hunting, which is a very important item of Inuit daily life. He takes care of the people following all the taboos and in such a way decides whether they deserve or not to have success in their hunting.
Speaking about the hunting issues, we cant help mentioning Tekkeitsertok, the spirit of the Earth and the master of all deer. Like Sedna and Nannok, he is the one responsible for hunting. Tekkeitsertok is one of the most important hunting gods in the pantheon. All in all, it is obvious that Inuit mythology is based on the things people see around them - the earth, the sky and the sea, and things that people do most often in this case it is hunting. Inuit mythology is very original and interesting, but what is most striking and exiting is that it is very difficult to draw a distinction between Inuit mythology and religion as far as these people worship the spirits and gods, which are known to regulate their existence. But at the same time there is no ruler of the Inuit cosmos, no mother and father figure, no wind gods or single solar creators.
However, religion in connection with mythology plays a great part in Inuit culture. The main point outlined by Inuit people sounds as follows: We dont believe. We fear. Bibliography web web at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). 1995 - 1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; 2000 - 05 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, accessed on 01 / 11 / 2005. web at web the page was last modified 00: 32, 13 October 2005, accessed on 01 / 11 / 2005.
web at provided by Wikipedia, accessed on 01 / 11 / 2005.
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Research essay sample on Accessed On 01 11 2005 01 11 2005 Inuit
