A study of Navajo symbolism - Free History Ebooks

CONTENTS26.28.29.30.3 1 -36.38.40.42.60.68.69.70.7 1 -76.53- Serpents 2954- Guard55- Mirage293056. Curved serpent guard 3057- The sun's medicine bag 3058. Bear constellation 3259-72-73-74-75-77-78.Home of snake people 21Moon shadows or phases 21"Jalth," the frog 21Turtle 21Horned toad 21Gila monster 21"Teoltsodi," water monster 22"Tabasteen," otter 22"Tchah," beaver 22"Kahtsen," alligator 22Big fish 22Sky symbols 24Comet or shooting star 25Star 25Star 25Clouds carrying hailstones 27Clouds carrying stars 27Turkey 27*5-27-3*-33-34-35-37-39-4'-43- Eagle 2744.45-BatSmall bird272746.47-48.Thunder birdRain cloudDancing figures27272749- Feather showing direction of movement . . 2950.5i-52-Dragon flyDontsoLightning292929Buffalo 32Whirling circle tvpifving means of locomotion3261.62.63.64.65.66.PorcupineMountain lionDeerGoat or deer or antelopeRabbitCoyote32323232333367. Badger 34Star cross 34Wolf tracks 34Bear tracks 34Eagle or hawk claws 34Willow square used in Yehbechai ceremony 36Medicine bags hanging from wrist .... 36Kehtahns 36Yucca 36Corn in Blessing Chant representing the treeof life 37Sunflower 37Beganaskiddy, carrier of seeds, with his ceremonialcane and horns of power 40Fire god carrying fire stick and traveler'sbread 40Pollen Boy on the face of the sun 43Corn Maiden on the face of the moon ... 43Butterfly 44Kehtahns 44Chart of hero's journey 46Symbolic writing 47Life and death cross 47Crossing rivers 47PART II:NAVAHO PICTURE WRIT-ING, by Stanley A. FishierCOLOR PLATESI-XII following 72NOTES ON CORRESPOND-ING SYMBOLS IN VARIOUS PARTSOF THE WORLD, by Mary C. WheelwrightPART III:LINE-CUT FIGURES1. a, b, c, d, Four versions of Dontso. e, f, g, h.Ancient Chinese calligraphic symbols forCicada, (e-h, courtesy Metropolitan Museumof Art) 872. Gold symbol from Colombia in British Museum873. Jade circle from British Honduras in BritishMuseum 874. Symbol associated with Ka 875. Squash blossoms and fertility symbol of Navajonecklaces 916. Derivation of words from pre-Sanskrit ... 947. Ethkay-nah-ashi figures at bottom 958. Design on wall with Perusha on top .... 959. Idealized form of man 95HALF-TONE PLATESPLATE I. a. Horned god. Chinese bronze Kuangceremonial vessel, owned by Mrs. EugeneMeyer, Washington, DC b, Wooden monsterhead from Ch'angsha, south central China, 4thcentury b.c. (Photo, courtesy of the BritishMuseum.) following 88PLATE II. Antlered mask from the HopewellMound, Ohio. (Photo, courtesy of the ChicagoNatural History Museum.)