The Fire-Bringer Boy
Canela · mortal · Canela traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
The Fire-Bringer is the human hero of the origin-of-fire myth. Left stranded on a cliff-face after climbing for macaw fledglings and abandoned by his companion, the boy is rescued by the jaguar, carried to its home, and fed roasted meat, his first taste of cooked food. Warned of, or menaced by, the jaguar's wife, he at length escapes carrying a burning log, and with it the Canela gain fire and the art of cooking. He is remembered by his deed rather than by a fixed personal name, and tellings differ on whether he acts alone or with the help of animals who relay the firebrand as he runs.
Domains
- fire
Powers
- carries the jaguar's fire to his people
Relations
- companion: RopAdopted and fed by the jaguar whose fire he later takes.Nimuendaju 1946, The Eastern Timbira, 'Mythology' (origin of fire). (primary)
Sources
- The stranded boy adopted by the jaguar carried off its fire and so brought cooking-fire to the Canela.: Nimuendaju 1946, The Eastern Timbira, 'Mythology' (origin of fire). (primary)