When we talk about mythology, we immerse ourselves in a world in which reality and fantasy merge, to create an amazing cultural heritage. Through these myths, ancient people managed to explain the phenomena that occurred in their daily lives, as well as give meaning to the most transcendental aspects of their existence. We are usually familiar with Greek, Roman or Celtic mythology, but there are many other cultural compilations that we have little access to. Today at we dare to tell you about Inuit myths and legends, immersing ourselves in a culture as unknown as it is fascinating. Join us to learn about Inuit mythology.
The essence of Inuit mythology
To delve into the essence of Inuit mythology, it is necessary to have certain references about this interesting social group. They are a people originating from the immensity of the Canadian Arctic, belonging to a much larger family that extends from the Bering Sea across
When we talk about mythology, we immerse ourselves in a world in which reality and fantasy merge, to create an amazing cultural heritage. Through these myths, ancient people managed to explain the phenomena that occurred in their daily lives, as well as give meaning to the most transcendental aspects of their existence. We are usually familiar with Greek, Roman or Celtic mythology, but there are many other cultural compilations that we have little access to. Today at we dare to tell you about Inuit myths and legends, immersing ourselves in a culture as unknown as it is fascinating. Join us to learn about Inuit mythology.
The essence of Inuit mythology
To delve into the essence of Inuit mythology, it is necessary to have certain references about this interesting social group. They are a people originating from the immensity of the Canadian Arctic, belonging to a much larger family that extends from the Bering Sea through Alaska and through northern Canada to Greenland. They are imaginative, strong, resilient people with a particular way of life, of which It highlights a rich culture where art, song, dance, and Inuit myths and legends play an important role.
Being a repository of its culture, The mythology of this town is transmitted by the elders from generation to generation.. Inuit mythology has experienced a revival in popularity, as community groups have dedicated themselves to preserving traditional teachings, as a form of cultural and political solidarity.
What are the foundations of Inuit mythology?
There are several essential foundations that give context to Inuit myths and legends. Among the most important, stands out the fact that These people designate the powers of Good and Evil to the deitieswho lived in a spiritual world closely intertwined with the beautiful landscape of the north, where they lived.
Oral transmission has been one of the most important methods in preserving traditional customs and Inuit myths and legends. The elders are in charge of telling these tales and stories to the new generations, which are based mainly on the first stories of the gods, and have a close relationship with Inuit shamanism.
A fundamental tenet of Inuit mythology is the belief in other worlds, under the sea, within the Earth and in the sky, where some angakkuqs Gifted (shamans) have the power to travel in trances and dreams, visiting places that ordinary mortals would only experience in The beyond.
As we see, dreams have always played an important role in the lives of the Inuit, perhaps serving as the basis for some of their myths. Each element within dreams is interpreted carefully, in search of meanings that reveal something important to the person who has them. Dreams of polar bears, for example, are said to have sexual connotations and dreams of weasels suggest trouble, while dreams of the bird warn of approaching blizzards.
The most popular Inuit myths and legends
1. The legend of the sea goddess
Among the most popular Inuit myths and legends, appears the legend of Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea, and who is also known by the names Nuliayuk, Taluliyuk, Taleelayuk. The story is that of a young woman without a mother, who grew up happy with her father on a small island in Canada. But one day the girl met a foreign captain with whom she fell madly in love. That man, who apparently was a witch or a shaman, tricked her into taking her with him to the depths of the ocean. Condemned to remain in the waters, she ended up becoming the goddess of the sea, fish and small seals.
2. The legend of Lumiuk
Another of the myths that attracts the most attention in Inuit mythology is the legend of Lumiuk, also called Lumak or Lumaag. This tells the story of a little blind boy, who lived among sadness and abuse of all kinds. One day the little boy decides to take refuge in the sea. As he is shipwrecked, the boy regains his sight and thus ends his suffering.
3. The legend of Kiviuk
Next among the Inuit myths and legends is that of Kiviuk, also known as Kiviok or Kiviuq. He is a mythological figure who is usually linked to Sedna. She is understood by the Inuit people as a character that provides the abundance of fish for food and the absence of trees in the arctic tundra.
4. The legend of the origin of the world
And one of the most interesting legends in Inuit mythology is that of the origin of the world, as we know it. According to the Eskimo people, at the beginning of the world there was only a man and a woman, without any animals. Then the woman asked Kaila, the god of the sky, to populate the earth. The deity then ordered that a hole be made in the ice to fish, and from that hole all the animals we know would begin to emerge, one by one. The last one to leave was a fish called caribou. Kaila told the woman that that animal was a gift for her people, with which they could feed themselves and thus multiply the human race.
4. The legend of the Ijiraq
And among Inuit myths and legends, the legend of the Ijiraq is one of the darkest. This tells the story of a monster whose goal is to kidnap children and hide them for all eternity. This myth also relates that the inukshuk, stone mounds built by humans, are what allow children to find their way back home, if they manage to persuade the Ijiraq to let them leave.
In short, all the legends of Inuit mythology have one point in common: they were designed to give a certain meaning to a hostile and cold scenario, such as the one inhabited by the Inuit, and to transmit the idea of Good and Evil. In this mythology also appear other gods and minor figures such as Sulla, the goddess of air; Pinga, the goddess of fertility and medicine; or Nuna, the divinity of the earth.
And you, Have you heard about Inuit mythology? Which of the Inuit myths and legends did you like the most? Feel free to leave us your opinions in a comment. We will be happy to read you! And if this topic has caught your attention, don’t miss the article in which we tell you about the most interesting curious facts about the Inuit. We are in a super curious next topic!