Gaasyendietha, also known as the meteor dragon according to
Seneca mythology, is a
giant serpent that dwells in the deep areas of rivers and lakes of Canada, especially
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north, west, and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south and east by the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. The Canada–United Sta ...
. This serpent could fly on a trail of fire, and it could also spew fire, which has led to it being viewed as analogous to European
dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
s.
It is also known as the "meteor dragon", in reference to its supposed origin from a meteoroid that had impacted the Earth. It is also capable of crossing the heavens on a trail of fire. Another reference to it is as the "fire lion", which is the Iroquioan version of the Underwater Panther.
In the tale "Ganyadjigowa", the hero Ganyadjigowa (The Mudhen) was killed by Gaasyendietha, in the form of an old man.
References
External links
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Toronto Urban Legends: The Great Serpent of Lake Ontario
Canadian legendary creatures
Iroquois legendary creatures
Mythological aquatic creatures
North American dragons
Sea serpents
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