Sedna (mythology) facts for kids
Sedna (also known as Sanna or Sidne) is a very important goddess in Inuit mythology. She is known as the goddess of the sea and all the animals that live in it. People also call her the Mother of the Sea or Mistress of the Sea.
The story of Sedna is a creation myth. This means it's a special story that explains how something important in the world came to be. Sedna's myth tells us how she became the ruler of Adlivun, which is like the Inuit underworld or spirit world beneath the sea.
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Who is Sedna? Other Names for the Sea Goddess
Sedna has many different names depending on where Inuit people live. In some parts of Greenland, she is called Arnakuagsak or Arnaqquassaaq. In West Greenlandic, her name is Sassuma Arnaa, which means "Mother of the Deep."
Other names include Nerrivik (meaning "Table") or Nuliajuk in places like the District of Keewatin in Canada. The Copper Inuit from the Coronation Gulf area sometimes call her Arnapkapfaaluk, meaning "Big Bad Woman." In Igloolik, she might be known as Takánakapsâluk or Takannaaluk. People in Killiniq, Labrador, used to call her "Old-woman-who-lived-in-the-sea."
The Myth of Sedna: How She Became the Sea Goddess
There are several different versions of Sedna's story. Some legends say she was the daughter of a goddess named Isarrataitsoq. Other stories only mention her father.
Sedna and Her Father: A Tale of Transformation
In one popular story, Sedna was a giant with a huge appetite. She became so hungry that she even attacked her own parents! Her father, Anguta, was very angry. He took her out to sea in his kayak and threw her overboard.
As Sedna tried to climb back into the kayak, her father cut off her fingers. She then sank deep into the ocean. As she fell, her chopped-off fingers transformed into the sea animals that Inuit people hunt, like seals, walruses, and whales. Sedna then became the powerful ruler of the sea and its creatures.
Sedna's Marriage and the Shaman's Role
Another version of the legend says Sedna was not happy with the men her father chose for her. Instead, she married a dog! Her father was so furious that he threw her into the sea. When she tried to get back into the boat, he cut off her fingers. These fingers became the very first seals.
In this story, Sedna becomes a mighty sea goddess. If she gets angry, she can stop the sea animals from coming to the hunters. To calm her down, a special spiritual leader called an shaman must travel to her underwater home. The shaman washes and combs her hair, which makes her happy again. Once she is pleased, she releases the animals for the hunters. Some stories say she can't comb her own hair because she has no fingers, so the shaman helps her.
The Orphan Girl Who Became a Goddess
In the Netsilik region, the story tells of Nuliayuk, an orphan girl who was treated badly. One day, people tried to get rid of her by drowning her. They chopped off her fingertips, which turned into seals and walruses. Eventually, Nuliayuk married a sculpin (a type of fish) and lived in the sea, controlling all the sea mammals.
Sedna and the Bird-Spirit
Other legends describe Sedna as a beautiful young woman who refused to marry any of the hunters in her village. Then, an unknown hunter appeared. Sedna's father agreed to let her marry him in exchange for fish. Sedna's father gave her a sleeping potion and gave her to the hunter.
The hunter took her to a large nest on a cliff. There, he showed his true form: a great bird-spirit, sometimes described as a raven, a fulmar, or a petrel-spirit. Sedna woke up surrounded by birds. Her father tried to rescue her, but the bird-spirit became angry and caused a huge storm. In desperation, Sedna's father threw her into the stormy sea. As she tried to hold onto the kayak, her hands froze, and her fingers fell off. These fingers became the creatures of the sea. Sedna then sank to the bottom of the sea and grew a fishtail.
Sedna's Power Over Sea Animals
No matter which version of the story is told, the main parts are often the same. Sedna's father takes her to sea in his kayak and cuts off her fingers. She then sinks to the bottom of the sea. Hunters depend on her kindness to provide them with food.
Sedna is often seen as a goddess who can get angry. Hunters must try to please her and pray to her. This way, she will release the sea animals from the ocean depths for them to hunt. In Killiniq, people would throw old harpoon heads, broken knives, and bits of meat and bone into the sea as gifts for her.
Sedna in Space: An Asteroid's Name
Sedna's name has even traveled into space! A trans-Neptunian object (a small planet-like body beyond Neptune) was discovered on November 14, 2003. It was named 90377 Sedna after the powerful Inuit sea goddess. This object was found by Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David Rabinowitz.
See also
In Spanish: Sedna (mitología) para niños
