1901/07/09 by J. WALTER FEWKES, J. Walter Fewkes · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Archaeology and Natural History
paper · doi:10.1525/aa.1901.3.3.02a00040
Fire is or was regarded by the Hopi Indians of northeastern Arizona as a living being, its cultus consisting primarily of rites for germination, and, secondarily, for rain-making. When new fire is ceremonially kindled, this act and the accompanying rites are prayers to the Fire-gods, or, what is practically the same thing, to the personations of great magic powers, male and female, which generate or create living beings. The Greater New-fire festival' occurs at Walpi in November and is celebrated by all male adults of the pueblos on the East Mesa of Tusayan. The gods worshiped at that time are (I) the male Germ-god, Masaud, God of Fire and ruler of the abode of the dead; and (2) his female complement, the Germ-mother, called Aldsaka-woman or Talatumsi, and Tuwapontumsi or Earthwoman.2