The Bird That Devours Men

J

jmings

Joined
Aug 20, 2005
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488

The Bird That Devours Men

Of course until Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette fought with it it was just an NDN legend.
piasa2.jpg


Be sure to check the links at the end of the story.
Many moons ago, there existed a birdlike creature of such great size, he could easily carry off a full grown deer in his talons. His taste, however, was for human flesh. Hundreds of warriors attempted to destroy the Piasa, but failed. Whole villages were destroyed and fear spread throughout the Illini tribe. Ouatoga, a chief whose fame extended even beyond the Great Lakes, separated himself from his tribe, fasted in solitude for the space of a whole moon, and prayed to the Great Spirit to protect his people from the Piasa.

On the last night of his fast, the Great Spirit appeared to Ouatoga in a dream and directed him to select 20 warriors, arm them each with a bow and poisoned arrow, and conceal them in a designated spot. Another warrior was to stand in an open view, as a victim for the Piasa.

When the chief awoke in the morning, he told the tribe of his dream. The warriors were quickly selected and placed in ambush. Ouatoga offered himself as the victim. Placing himself in open view, he soon saw the Piasa perched on the bluff eyeing his prey. Ouatoga began to chant the death song of a warrior. The Piasa took to the air and swooped down upon the chief. The Piasa had just reached his victim when every bow was sprung and every arrow sent sailing into the body of the beast. The Piasa uttered a fearful scream that echoed down the river, and died. Ouatoga was safe, and the tribe saved.
Click to expand...
 
A legend/monster I'd never heard of. Thanks for the work and link, jmings.





munk
 
munk said:
A legend/monster I'd never heard of. Thanks for the work and link, jmings.

munk
Click to expand...
Always glad to brighten up my comrades' days :D

BTW did you notice how the descriptions and historys were inconsistant?
 
I have heard of the Thunderbird legend...some giant bird that would take much larger creatures...there have been reports and sightings for couple centuries, ala bigfoot...some people say that it hunts on the ground for most of its food, because there has to be an atmospheric event to provide it with the proper lift to get it off the ground and flying. That's the legend anyway. The description is much less surprising...it's just a giant bird, from what I've been told. Seems plausible enough, I guess.
 
Great to feel an abused liver still can shiver.
These ancient tales make you wonder... Just the slightest grain of truth is scary. Proof of inhaling/drinking mind altering substances would make a difference. The absence of this can stimulate an overactive imagination into overdrive:eek: :eek:

Love it m'self!

More of the same..
http://home.rconnect.com/~arcanaresearch/id7.html
 
The legend of the Piasa bird is a local favorite, especially on the Illinois
side of the river, since it's about the only local monster of note. It is also
very "local" in that it seems to have been be pretty much unknown outside of the St. Louis area.

jmings:
"Of course until Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette fought with it it was just an NDN legend."

The white man now seems to want to take credit for the destruction of the Piasa bird.

I first heard of it as a Cub Scout many years ago. The accounts I heard and read of locally were of the
original Indian legend. Those said that by the time Marquette & Joliet passed by, what they
encountered was the painting(s) on the cliff walls.

I've done a little research into the legend in the years since, and this is the
first time I've heard of Marquette and Joilet's "pitched battle" with the
Piasa bird. I suspect that it is a relatively recent addition to the myth.
The fact that it is a very "cinematic" account makes me even more suspicious.


The Missippi River bluffs north of Alton,IL that were supposed the lair of the
Piasa bird are the overwintering home of the largest concentration of American Bald Eagles
outside of Alaska. There are also 40 permanent Bald Eagle nests there.

A concentration of large bird predators such as bald eagles might have had
an influence on the Piasa legends.

It is regarded locally with affection as well as horror, much like Godzilla.

John
 
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