Uktena
The Keen-eyed
Cherokee Mythology
The Uktena is a powerful and dangerous creature in Cherokee mythology. It has a snakelike body the size of a tree trunk, antlers which resemble a stag, and a glowing crystal on its forehead said to possess magical powers.
The crystal on Uktena’s forehead, Ulûñsû’tî, can grant magical powers to the person who possesses it. However, acquiring this can be a deadly task. Merely gazing upon the crystal causes hunters to run towards it. Just sighting the Uktena can be a foreboding experience, often leading to death or danger to family members.
The Uktena’s breath was toxic to those near it. Additionally, its blood was poisonous, and the serpent could spit venom at its prey. The Uktena resides in secluded ravines, pools, or rivers, waiting for solitary hunters to ambush.
Uktena’s Origin
As the Sun traveled across the sky, the people would squint as they gazed upon her. Mistaking this for disdain, the Sun became angry. In this anger, she bestowed sickness and fevers upon the people of Earth.
Consequently, as the people continued to suffer, the Little Men (a group of powerful spirits) turned a man into a fearful beast, the Uktena. Uktena, the Keen-Eyed, set out to kill the Sun to end the sickness. However, after failing to accomplish this task, the Rattlesnake was sent instead.
As the people still feared the Uktena, it was banished to the secluded, dark ravines and pools of the Cherokee lands.
Magical Power of Ulûñsû’tî
The Uktena is a feared serpent, but the powers of the crystal in its forehead, the Ulûñsû’tî, were renowned. Many hunters sought after acquiring the Ulûñsû’tî. However, none returned except for Âgän-uni’tsï.
The Uktena’s Ulûñsû’tî would grant the person that possesses it great powers in hunting, love, rainmaking, and all other areas of life. In addition, it would allow the holder to see the future of themselves and others.
However, possession of the Ulûñsû’tî did not come without consequence. The object would be wrapped in deerskin and contained in a bottle in a cave. Once a week the owner must feed it the blood of small game. Furthermore, twice a year the owner must feed it the blood of large game.
Failing to satiate the Ulûñsû’tî with blood, it would come to life in the form of fire across the sky and quench its thirst by killing humans. It may even go after the owner’s family.
Âgän-uni’tsï Acquiring the Ulûñsû’tî
The Shawano (Shawnee) tribe often engaged in skirmishes with the Cherokee. To the Cherokee people, the Shawano were all magicians. After one battle, a powerful medicine man, Âgän-uni’tsï, found himself captured and facing torture. Pleading for his life, Âgän-uni’tsï promised he could slay the Uktena for the Cherokee.
While this task meant almost certain death, his captors agreed to the arrangement. Âgän-uni’tsï sought to find the feared Uktena, starting his search in the Northern parts of Cherokee land in the Smoky Mountains.
Despite searching all the secluded ravines the Uktena is known to ambush its prey, Âgän-uni’tsï’s searches came up fruitless. He encountered great snakes, the largest of their kind, a black snake, a moccasin snake, a green snake, a great lizard, a giant frog, and other large reptiles.
Finally, arriving at Gahû’tï mountain, Âgän-uni’tsï encountered a sleeping Uktena. Gazing upon the Uktena, Âgän-uni’tsï set his plan in motion. He traveled to the foot of the ravine and made a circle of pinecones. Within this circle, he dug a shallow pit. Next, he set the circle of pinecones on fire surrounding the pit.
Slaying the Uktena
Knowing the only weakness of the Uktena, the seventh spot from its head, Âgän-uni’tsï nocked an arrow and shot it through the heart of the serpent. Quickly, he ran down the ravine, jumped over the fire, and ducked into the pit.
In its death throes, the Uktena spit poison, which flowed down the ravine. The sacred fire protected Âgän-uni’tsï from all the poison except one drop, which landed on his head. However, Âgän-uni’tsï was not aware of this at the time.
Next, the blood of the Uktena spilled down the mountain. This again failed to penetrate the fire of the pinecones, leaving Âgän-uni’tsï unscathed. The corpse of the massive serpent rolled down the ravine, felling trees and clearing bushes until it found its resting place at the bottom.
Knowing the corpse was still a danger, Âgän-uni’tsï called upon all the birds in the area to feast upon the serpent’s corpse. After seven days, the corpse was completely gone, even the bones. However, upon searching the nearby area, Âgän-uni’tsï saw a glowing object in the underbrush. This was the Ulûñsû’tî, the gem in the Uktena’s forehead, which granted the holder powerful magic.
From then on, Âgän-uni’tsï was known as the most powerful medicine man in the Cherokee nation. Later, a lake of black water formed where the blood of the Uktena spilled. This lake would later be used by women in the tribe to dye baskets.