Tia (goddess) facts for kids

Tia is a special goddess in the stories of the Haida people, who are an Indigenous group from the Pacific Northwest Coast. She is known as the goddess of peaceful death. This means she looks after people when they pass away calmly and naturally.

Tia: Goddess of Peaceful Passing

In Haida mythology, gods and goddesses often work together or balance each other out. Tia is a great example of this idea. She represents a gentle and calm ending to life. Her role is to guide spirits peacefully to the next part of their journey.

Tia's Counterpart: Ta'xet

Tia is part of a pair, which means she has a partner who is very different from her. Her partner is Ta'xet, who is the Haida god of violent death. While Tia is about peace and quiet endings, Ta'xet is linked to sudden or forceful deaths, like those from accidents or battles.

The Idea of Duality

The idea of Tia and Ta'xet working as a pair is called a duality. This means they are two opposite forces that exist together and balance each other out. It's like light and shadow, or day and night. In Haida beliefs, having a goddess for peaceful death and a god for violent death shows that they understood different ways life could end. It also shows how important balance was in their view of the world.