The Fire-Bringer

Apinajé · mortal · Apinajé traditional religion; continuing · mortal

The Fire-Bringer is the human hero of the Apinayé origin-of-fire myth, unnamed in the sources but pivotal in Jê tradition. Sent up a cliff to rob a macaw's nest and then abandoned there by his brother-in-law, the boy is rescued by the Jaguar, who carries him home, adopts him and feeds him the roasted meat that people had never tasted. Enduring the menace of the Jaguar's wife, he learns the use of fire and the bow, and at last leads his kinsmen to carry off a burning log from the Jaguar's hearth. Through his act humankind ceases to eat food raw or merely warmed in the sun, and the domestic fire becomes common property.

Domains

Powers

Relations

Sources

Open in the interactive app →