IROQUOIS EPIC MYTH: PART TWO OF HODADEION, THE GOD OF MAGIC

PART 2 – THE WASP-MEN – (Hodadeion was the son of the creator god Tharonhiawakon and a mortal woman, the same mortal woman who bore him Hodadeion’s siblings. Those siblings were Otgoe, the wampum god and Yeyenthwus, the future goddess of chestnut trees.)

Hodadeion ventured to the north despite his sister Yeyenthwus’ warnings. He came across a few more villages that were now deserted like his own and he realized how far-reaching was the reign of terror of the cannibalistic wizards who had decimated the population of his and his siblings’ home village.

Eventually Hodadeion stumbled into the territory of the Wasp-Men, who flew after Hodadeion, forcing him toretreat. Having been taken by surprise Hodadeion’s magic was able to shield him from being stung but he could not rally and drive back the naked Wasp-Men.

After reaching safety Hodadeion resolved not to return home after this defeat and began taking dozens of large sticks and piercing the ground with them so that they each stood upright like poles. He chanted over these sticks for a full night and come morning he returned to the territory of the Wasp-Men.

Once again the naked Wasp-Men flew at the god of magic and he retreated before them, but this time it was a planned retreat that was leading his attackers into a trap. When the Wasp-Men reached the clearing where Hodadeion had planted his sticks in the ground those sticks turned into short wooden men and attacked the god’s pursuers.

Since they were made of wood Hodadeion’s magically conjured army was unharmed by the stings of the Wasp-Men. After the wooden warriors had slain a large number of the Wasp-Men those beings fled and never again attacked Hodadeion when he would travel through their territory. Other versions claim the wooden soldiers killed every single one of the Wasp-Men.  

FOR PART THREE CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2013/05/22/iroquois-epic-myth-hodadeion-part-three/

FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2013/03/17/iroquois-epic-myth-hodadeion/

For my original list of Iroquois deities click here: https://glitternight.com/2013/01/28/the-top-fifteen-deities-in-iroquois-mythology/

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.