Explore the Mystery of Native American Creation Myths
Where did we come from?
Ideas and theories about the beginning of the world run the gamut, with different cultures, groups, and religions offering creation stories or myths, and explanations of how different parts of the world came to be.
Perhaps one of the most fascinating of these groups is the Native Americans. Across the board, Native American cultures offer many creation legends, many of which involve sacred caves or underground tunnels.
As we explore the stories offered by Native Americans as to the beginnings of everything, we also wind deeper into the Earth itself.
Apache
The Apache have several myths about creation that involve both gods and animals.
In one myth, Tepeu and Quetzalcoatl think everything into being. Essentially, their thoughts become reality, so they think everything from mountains to trees and the sky into reality. However, when they discovered these creations couldn’t praise them, they made others out of clay and wood. When these beings caused havoc on the world, the gods sent a great flood to wipe them out and start over.
Another of the Apache myths describes the beginning as an awakening of sorts, with darkness turning to light through the actions of a small, bearded man, the One Who Lives Above. They say by rubbing his face and hands, he created the Sun-God, Big Dipper, Wind, and Lightning-Rumbler, to name a few.
Then, after the gods united through a handshake, the Creator directed them to pull a brown ball that had dropped from his hands in all directions to form the Earth, and with the hummingbird’s guidance, placed four cardinal points on the Earth to make it still.
Hopi
While the Hopi have multiple legends, perhaps one of the most intriguing involves the Ant People, who are credited with saving the Hopi not once, but twice.
The so-called “First World” was destroyed by fire — be it an ejection from the sun, volcanic eruption, or asteroid strike, and the “Second World” was destroyed by ice — perhaps glaciers or a pole shift. In both instances, Hopi legends say the tribe was guided during the day by an odd-shaped cloud, and during the night by a moving star. These guides led them to a sky god named Sotuknang, who took them to the Ant People.
It was in the aforementioned subterranean caves that the Hopi found refuge during the global cataclysms occurring above. In this legend, the Ant People are seen as generous and hardworking, giving the Hopi food and teaching them about food storage when they needed it most.
Interestingly, the Babylonian sky god was named “Anu,” also the Hopi word for “ant.” “Naki” is the Hopi root word for friends. So, the Hopi Anu-naki, or “ant friends” may have some correlation with the Sumerian Annunaki.
Sioux
Such sacred caves are also a theme in Sioux legends, regarding a location in the Wind Cave National Park, in South Dakota.
In this legend, the Sioux feared a cave that had wind blowing in and out of it — they believed a breathing giant lived inside, and the giant invoked the providence of the Great Spirit.
However, one curious medicine man is said to have seen a vision from a young Indian maiden, telling him she was the immortal buffalo lady from under the Earth. She told the medicine man to tell the others the cave was a sacred place, and people should come and drop offerings and tokens, which would gain them great herds of buffalo.
Lakota
The Lakota version of events starts with adultery.
In their version of events, Inktomi, the spider trickster, causes a riff between the Sun God Takushkanshkan and his wife, the Moon. Their separation created time. While previously, the gods had lived in heaven, Inktomi and his co-conspirators were exiled to live with the cultureless humans who inhabited Earth.
Upon arrival, Inktomi travels underground to meet where humanity lived, and convinces Tokahe (“the first”) to come to the surface. He emerges from the Wind Cave to find a beautiful place, so he convinces other families to come up.
Tokahe soon figures out he was duped, as “buffalo are scarce, the weather has turned bad, and they find themselves starving.” To make matters worse, he and the other families who settled there cannot return to their home underground, and so must eke out an existence on the surface of the Earth.
Cherokee
Finally, the Cherokee also have several myths that explain the beginnings of the Earth.
In one myth, a great island floated in an ocean, attached to four thick ropes from the sky, which was rock. Because everything was dark, the animals could not see. The Great Spirit told the animals to stay awake for seven days and nights, but most of them couldn’t. However, the plants that stayed awake were able to stay green all year, and the animals that were able to stay awake such as the owl and mountain lion could also go about in the dark.
Another story describes everything being water, and the animals living above it and the sky being overcrowded. One day, a water beetle named Dayuni’si volunteered to explore underwater and found mud he brought back to the surface. He brought back so much mud he created the Earth. As the Earth hardened, they pulled a sun out from behind the rainbow and placed it high in the sky to light the path.
In both of these legends, the animals came first, and the humans second.
Exploring the Connections Between Native American Legends
Without a doubt, the stories and legends behind the beginning of the world vary greatly depending on the Native American tribe attached to them.
However, many of the similarities and links among the stories bring about questions and curiosities about what might lie inside the Earth, and how it affected the creation of the world as we know it today.
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The History of the Anunnaki, Creators of Humanity?
The Anunnaki are mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts as powerful deities who descended from the sky to influence human civilization. These beings not only guided the Sumerians in the development of their culture, but also participated in the creation and evolution of mankind. In this article we explore who the Anunnaki were, their characteristics, and how their presence has been interpreted in different historical and cultural contexts.
Table of Contents
- Who Are the Anunnaki?
- Characteristics of the Anunnaki According to Ancient Texts
- Origin and Meaning of the Term Anunnaki
- The Anunnaki and the Creation of the Human Being
- The Anunnaki in the Bible and Other Sacred Texts
- The Connection Between the Anunnaki and Atlantis
- Are the Anunnaki Still on Earth Today?
Who Are the Anunnaki?
The Anunnaki are a race of deities mentioned in Sumerian mythology, considered to be the sons of Anu, the sky god. These deities were revered for their power and wisdom, and were believed to rule the Earth and the underworld. The Sumerians recorded on their cuneiform tablets the existence of the Anunnaki and their intervention in human affairs, attributing to them the creation of civilization through the transmission of advanced knowledge in astronomy, agriculture, architecture and medicine.
The writer and researcher Zecharia Sitchin popularized the idea that the Anunnaki were extraterrestrial beings from the planet Nibiru. According to Sitchin, these gods arrived on Earth some 450,000 years ago and, through genetic engineering, created Homo sapiens by mixing their DNA with that of terrestrial primates. The main purpose of this intervention was to use humans as labor to extract gold and other natural resources.
In the series Ancient Civilizations, available on Gaia, these theories are explored through various archaeological evidence and ancient texts, offering fascinating insights into the influence of the Anunnaki on human history.
Characteristics of the Anunnaki According to Ancient Texts
Sumerian texts and other ancient traditions attribute to the Anunnaki a number of extraordinary characteristics that distinguish them from other mythological or historical beings. These descriptions allow us to better understand why they were considered figures of superior power and wisdom.
- Celestial origin: They were said to have descended from the sky, specifically from the planet Nibiru, whose elliptical orbit periodically connected them with the Earth.
- Advanced technology: They possessed superior technical knowledge in fields such as astronomy, medicine, engineering and architecture.
- Imposing appearance: They were described as tall beings, with defined features, long hair and beard, conveying authority and divinity.
- Extreme longevity: It was believed that they could live for thousands of years, which is reflected in the long reigns recorded in the Sumerian King List.
- Genetic capabilities: According to Sitchin, they mastered DNA manipulation and created human hybrids for specific tasks, such as mining.
- Role of rulers: They ruled cities and regions, establishing laws and rules that structured Sumerian social and political life.
- Lasting cultural influence: His teachings left deep traces in Mesopotamian culture, in religious practices, symbols and architectural structures.
Origin and Meaning of the Term “Anunnaki”
The term “Anunnaki” comes from Akkadian and translates as “those who descended from heaven”. In turn, it derives from the Sumerian Anunna, which means “the sons of Anu”, the supreme god of the sky in Mesopotamian cosmology. This name reflects the divine and celestial character of these beings, who were seen as intermediaries between the world of the gods and that of humans.
In Sumerian cuneiform tablets, the Anunnaki appear as figures with authority to establish order on Earth and in the underworld. Their constant presence in mythical accounts suggests that they were not simply local deities, but entities with a fundamental role in the creation, destiny and governance of the human and spiritual world.
The Anunnaki and the Creation of the Human Being
One of the most debated aspects of the Anunnaki is their participation in the creation of human beings. According to the theories proposed by Zecharia Sitchin, the Anunnaki would have arrived on Earth some 450,000 years ago with the objective of extracting gold to restore the atmosphere of their planet, Nibiru. To facilitate this task, they found it necessary to create a workforce adapted to the conditions of the planet.
According to this view, the Anunnaki used their knowledge of genetics to manipulate the DNA of primitive hominids and combine it with their own. The result would have been a new species: Homo sapiens. This hybrid being was not only capable of following orders and performing physical tasks, but also inherited some of the intelligence and technical skills of its creators.
In addition to creating a new life form, the Anunnaki would have guided its cultural development. They did not limit themselves to giving biological origin to human beings, but also sowed the first notions of social organization, spirituality and technology. This would explain, for some researchers, the rapid evolutionary and civilizational leap observed in the archaeological records of Mesopotamia.
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Genetic Manipulation and Origin of Homo Sapiens
Genetic manipulation appears to be central to the theory of human creation by the Anunnaki. Sitchin posits that these beings had the ability to alter the genetic code with precision, a knowledge far beyond what ancient civilizations could have developed on their own. This act of biological engineering would have given rise to a species capable of reasoning, communicating and collaborating in complex activities.
This new being, the product of a fusion between extraterrestrial and terrestrial DNA, was designed with a functional purpose: to serve the Anunnaki in mining and other tasks. However, over time, this hybrid would have acquired self-awareness and developed capabilities beyond the control of its creators. This would have led to internal tensions among the Anunnaki themselves regarding the future of humanity.
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Knowledge Transmitted to Ancient Civilizations
In addition to their biological intervention, Sumerian accounts indicate that the Anunnaki shared a wealth of knowledge with humans. This knowledge included astronomy, mathematics, architecture and agricultural practices that fueled the rise of the Mesopotamian civilization. Sumerian temples, ziggurats and irrigation systems are seen as evidence of this advanced legacy.
This transmission of knowledge was not random. The Anunnaki would have chosen specific human lineages to continue their teaching, giving rise to priestly castes and kings who ruled with “divine” authority. Through these intermediaries, the teachings of the Anunnaki were integrated into the social and spiritual structure of early human cultures, many of which continued to worship them as gods for centuries.
The Anunnaki in the Bible and Other Sacred Texts
Some researchers claim that the Anunnaki appear in the Bible under the name of the Nephilim. Genesis 6:4 describes these beings as the “sons of God” who united with the “daughters of men,” giving rise to a race of giants. This narrative bears similarities to Sumerian stories, where celestial gods interact and interbreed with humans, generating special lineages.
Other religious traditions also contain references to superior beings descending from heaven to guide or intervene in human affairs. Apocryphal texts such as the Book of Enoch expand on these descriptions, mentioning the “Watchers,” entities that taught mankind advanced knowledge. These coincidences have led some authors to propose that sacred figures in different cultures may have a common origin in the stories of the Anunnaki.
The Connection Between the Anunnaki and Atlantis
The alleged relationship between the Anunnaki and Atlantis stems from the idea that both represent highly advanced civilizations that existed in antiquity. Some theorists claim that the Anunnaki could have been the true founders of Atlantis, transmitting their technology and knowledge to the first Atlanteans. This hypothesis would explain the level of sophistication attributed to this mythical civilization.
When Atlantis was destroyed, according to Plato’s accounts, some survivors would have taken this knowledge with them to other parts of the world. This would have given rise to new cultures such as the Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Andean civilizations. From this perspective, the legacy of the Anunnaki did not end with Atlantis, but was dispersed throughout the planet through these migrations.
Are the Anunnaki Still on Earth Today?
The possibility that the Anunnaki are still present on Earth is an idea that has gained momentum among certain groups of researchers and enthusiasts. According to this theory, these beings never completely left the planet, but continued to operate from hidden planes or through human elites with whom they would be linked. Some even suggest that they influence global politics, economics and technological development.
However, there is no evidence to support these claims. Most scholars consider these ideas to be speculative. Even so, interest in the figure of the Anunnaki continues to grow, fueled by ancient texts, archaeological finds and the increasing exploration of alternative narratives about the origin of humanity.
