Keengenkon, the Moon

Keengenkon, the woman-Moon, is made by Kóoch as companion to the Sun and is wedded to Xaleshen. The two engender daughters, of whom one marries Elal; when the parents refuse the hero their daughter he casts them into the sky. The sources note that the Moon became a malignant and powerful being, and that the spring tide of the new moon is explained as the Moon-mother calling her daughter—abandoned by Elal in the ocean—up toward the heavens. Siffredi discusses the possibility that a lunar cult once stood behind these motifs; women transmitted matrilineally a repertory of sacred songs dedicated to Elal and to the Moon, Sun and their daughter.

Domains

• moon and lunar cycles
• tides

Powers

• to draw the sea upward with the new moon as she calls to her daughter

Epithets

• KeengenkonSiffredi, Alejandra. "Algunos personajes de la mitología tehuelche meridional." RUNA: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre 11 (1968-69): 123-131. (secondary)

Relations

• spouse: Xaleshen, the SunWedded to the Sun, Xaleshen; their union and separation are read as the rhythm of night and day.Siffredi, Alejandra. "Algunos personajes de la mitología tehuelche meridional." RUNA: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre 11 (1968-69): 123-131. (secondary)

Sources

• Keengenkon is the woman-Moon of southern Tehuelche myth, made by Kóoch, wife of the Sun Xaleshen, mother of Elal's bride, and the lunar power whose calling raises the tides.: Siffredi, Alejandra. "Algunos personajes de la mitología tehuelche meridional." RUNA: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre 11 (1968-69): 123-131. (secondary); "Tehuelche Religion." Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005 (Encyclopedia.com). (secondary)