Drawing based on an Inuit mask depicting the sea goddess Sedna.
Drawing by Rita Lee
Sedna
Sedna was the
sea spirit according to the peoples of northern Canada and
Greenland, known as Inuit. Sedna was a young girl who stubbornly refused to
marry anyone. Her father forced her to marry a dog. Sedna's father felt
sorry for her and drowned the dog. After her husband died, Sedna was unable
to support her children and herself.
She had to send her children away and
returned to live with her parents. One day, a bird disguised as a man
sought Sedna in marriage. She accepted and went to live with him. But soon
Sedna discovered that her new husband was not a man but only a fulmar. When
Sedna's father visited her, he convinced Sedna to leave with him in his
boat.
Unfortunately, the fulmar caught them, and created with his wings an
enormous storm which threatened to overturn the boat. Terrified, Sedna's
father tried to throw the girl overboard to her husband, but she grasped
the boat's side. In fear, the father cut off Sedna's fingers until she fell
into the sea.. It is said that Sedna resides at the bottom of the sea with
the seals and other sea animals that were created from her fingers.
A large planetoid discovered in November 2003 has been named after Sedna. The planetoid orbits on the cold, outer fringe of our Solar System.
You might also be interested in:
Thunderstorms are one of the most thrilling and dangerous types of weather phenomena. Over 40,000 thunderstorms occur throughout the world each day. Thunderstorms form when very warm, moist air rises into
...more
Astronomers have discovered a new planetoid at the far edge of our Solar System. The new object, named Sedna, is probably almost as big as the smallest planet, Pluto. Sedna is very, very far away. It is
...more
There are people of different cultures and backgrounds who live in the Arctic region. Read on to learn more about two of these cultures. Inuit The Inuit are the native cultures that continue to live on
...more
Ahsonnutli was the sky father and chief god for the Navajo. He created heaven, Earth, and the sky. Each of the four directions, or cardinal points, are supported by a giant. Each direction is symbolized
...more
Amphitrite was one of the sea-nymphs called the Nereids. One day the sea god Poseidon saw her dancing and fell desperately in love with her. He promptly asked her to marry him but unfortunately she refused.
...more
Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She was known to the Romans as Venus. To the perfection of her figure and the purity of her features she added an innocent grace. On her sweet face she
...more
In Greek mythology, Apollo was the son of Jupiter(in Greek Zeus) and Leto (Letona). He was the god of the Sun, logic, and reason, and was also a fine musician and healer. Leto travelled all over Greece
...more
