In
Sioux mythology (Indigenous American mythological tradition that includes
Lakota mythology
Lakota mythology is the body of sacred stories that belong to the Lakota people, also known as the Teton Sioux.
Overview
The Lakota believe that everything has a spirit; including trees, rocks, rivers, and almost every natural being. This ther ...
), Anpao (
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
*Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language
Lakota ( ), also referred to as Lakhota, Teton or Teton Sioux, is a Siouan languages, Siouan language spoken by the Lakota people of ...
: ''Aŋpáo''), or Anp, is a spirit with two faces that represents the
dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the diffuse sky radiation, appearance of indirect sunlight being Rayleigh scattering, scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc ha ...
.
Anpao dances with Han, a primordial spirit of darkness, to ensure that
Wi does not burn up the Earth, resulting in day and night.
George Bushotter (
Yankton Dakota
The Dakota (pronounced , or ) are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government in North America. They compose two of the three main subcultures of the Sioux people, and are typically divided into the Eastern Dakota and the Wester ...
-
Lakota
Lakota may refer to:
*Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes
*Lakota language
Lakota ( ), also referred to as Lakhota, Teton or Teton Sioux, is a Siouan languages, Siouan language spoken by the Lakota people of ...
, 1860–1892) wrote that when his younger brother was ill, the brother was told to pray to Anpao, the Dawn, and recovered.
''Anpao zi'' is the "yellow of the dawn", which
oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information from
people, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people who pa ...
described as the
meadowlark's breast.
See also
*
Anog Ite, a two-faced goddess from Lakota mythology
*
Bangpūtys, two-faced Lithuanian god whose focus is on the weather and the sea
*
Hausos, PIE dawn goddess, reflexes of whom are common in daughter cultures
*
Ikenga
Ikenga ( Igbo literal meaning "strength of majesty") is a horned god found among the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. It is one of the most powerful symbols of the Igbo people and one of the most common cultural artifacts. Ikenga is mostly m ...
, two-faced Igbo spirit of fate, fortune, and achievement
*
Isimud, two-faced Mesopotamian messenger god
*
Janus
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus ( ; ) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janus (''Ianu ...
, two-faced Roman god whose focus is on doorways, endings, and beginnings in general
*
Two-Face
Two-Face is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bob Kane, and first appeared in ''Detective Comics'' #66 (August 1942). He has become one of the superhero Batman's most enduring e ...
, a monster from Plains Indian mythology
*
Sharp-Elbows, a monster from Ioway folklore sometimes described with two faces
References
Parts of a day
Sioux mythology
Dawn deities
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