Thunderbird (mythology)

The term thunder bird (English: Thunderbird ) comes from the North American indigenous mythology that sees this mythical creature as a mighty and powerful bird. He is one of the few elements of Indian mythology, which is found in virtually all indigenous peoples of North America. Many totem poles testify.

Description

In the language of the Lakota, this mythical creature " Wakinyan ", which translates as "holy swing " means. The wingspan should be twice the length of a canoe. With the beat of its wings it triggers storms and clenches the clouds together. The thunder is the sound of his wing beat and flashes are glowing snakes that it carries with it. In the masks of the natives it is displayed multicolored, with two twisted horns on the head and sometimes with a tooth- reinforced beak.

Depending on the representation is the thunderbird a single entity or a genus. But always he is intelligent, powerful and wrathful loaded. All representations agree that one should as far as possible not to upset him. In the myths of indigenous people on the American Pacific coast of the thunder bird lives on the top of a mountain and is a divine messenger and servant of the Great Spirit.

The Canadian natives tell of a genus Thunderbird, their relatives could turn into people by decreased their beaks like a mask and slipped out of her plumage. There are stories of thunder birds that have married into human families, and families who trace their origin to such marriages. Another story tells of purebred Thunderbird clan who lived on the northern tip of Vancouver in human form. Its origin came with the neighboring tribes quickly forgotten, and as one of those tribes fell upon them one day and tried to enslave, they laid their plumage again, and turned back to thunder birds to take revenge.

In the Kwakiutl, Haida and Tlingit of the west coast of the Thunder Bird with whales is associated, which he kills with the help of the mythical light hitting and eats. In two - and three-dimensional representations by artists of the peoples of the thunder bird with outspread wings and a hook-like beak, and usually with a rolled extension is shown at the top. In the mouth he occasionally a whale or a Walgerippe.

In North America, there have been since the appropriation by settlers repeatedly sightings of huge flying animals. So a true Sichtungswelle has arisen especially in the more northern states.

Figurative meaning

The U.S. Air Force has named their art aircraft squadron after the thunder bird. See USAF Thunderbirds.