Character guide

The Young Man

major

Also known as ye, yours, thou, the young man, thee

A central protagonist in many tales, often a youth on a quest or adventure.

The Maiden

major

Also known as thou, herself, thee, the maiden

A focal female character, often the object of love or a central figure in tales.

Coyote

major

Also known as the Coyote, The Coyote, the old Coyote, A Coyote, the little Coyote, This Coyote, Your

A trickster figure appearing in many stories, often cunning but sometimes foolish.

Old Tarantula

supporting

Also known as The Old Tarantula, Old Tarantula, the old Tarantula, the Aged Tarantula

A wise or tricky elder character who tests or aids young heroes.

The Old Demon

supporting

Also known as the old Demon, The old demon, the Demon, himself

A malevolent supernatural being that protagonists must outwit or defeat.

The Turtle

supporting

Also known as The Turtle, Turtle, The old Turtle, the old Turtle, old Turtle, the proud Turtle

A slow but clever animal character who often outsmarts others.

The Old Grandmother

supporting

Also known as the old Grandmother, The old grandmother, herself, myself

A nurturing elder figure who provides guidance or shelter to younger characters.

The Eagle

supporting

Also known as The Eagle, Eagle, the old Eagle, Great Eagle, mine, himself, its

A powerful bird character, often a helper or a symbol of strength.

Great Kingfisher

supporting

Also known as the Great Kingfisher, Kingfisher, Instantly Great Kingfisher, himself, your

A bird character who plays a role in various tales, sometimes as a helper.

Friend Mouse

supporting

Also known as the Mouse, The Mouse, mine

A small but resourceful rodent character who aids others.

The Cock

supporting

Also known as The cock, the Cock, The Cock, the old Tâkâkâ Cock, the Tâkâkâ Cock, the old Tâkâkâ

A proud bird character who appears in tales of cunning and adventure.

The Bear

supporting

Also known as the old Bear, the great Black Bear, The Bear, yours, himself, myself, your

A large and powerful animal character, often an antagonist or obstacle.

The Gopher

supporting

Also known as The old Gopher, The lubber-cheeked old Gopher, the old Gopher, himself

A burrowing animal character who uses cleverness to compete with others.

Mátsailéma

supporting

Also known as Mátsailéma Stole the Thunder-Stone, himself, your

A twin war god who steals the thunder-stone and lightning shaft.

Old Mítsina

supporting

Also known as Mítsina, old Mítsina, The Hermit Mítsina, himself, myself

A hermit or elder character who lives apart and interacts with visitors.

Átahsaia

supporting

Also known as himself

A cannibal demon who threatens the people and is confronted by heroes.

Áhaiyúta

supporting

Also known as little Áhaiyúta, himself, your

A twin war god who accompanies Mátsailéma on adventures.

The Deer

supporting

Also known as The Deer, Deer, their, thou, its, thy, themselves

An animal character that appears as a foster parent or hunted creature.

The Young Swift-Runner

supporting

Also known as Swift-runner, himself

A youth who is stripped of his clothing by the Aged Tarantula and must recover.

The Stranger

supporting

Also known as the stranger, thee, thou, Thou, thyself, thy

A mysterious visitor who appears in various tales, often with hidden motives.

Old Amiwili

minor

Also known as Amiwili, Old Amiwili, himself

An elder character who plays a role in certain Zuni tales.

The Eagles

minor

Also known as Eagles, The Eagles, the little Eagles, their, our

A group of eagle characters, sometimes including young ones, in various stories.

The Priest-Chief

supporting

Also known as the priest-chief, thou, thee, their, thy

A high-ranking religious leader who appears in several tales.

The Maiden the Sun

minor

Also known as the Sun, himself

A maiden who is loved by the Sun and bears his children.

The Priest-Chief's Daughter

supporting

Also known as the priest-chief's daughter

A daughter of a priest-chief who often becomes a love interest or key figure.

Coyotes

minor

Also known as the Coyotes, Those Coyotes, the little Coyotes, The Coyotes, their

A group of coyote characters who act together in certain tales.

Blackbirds

minor

Also known as the Blackbirds, The Blackbirds, their, themselves

Birds who dance with Coyote in a trickster tale.

The Mountain Lion

minor

A powerful predator character appearing in some stories.

The Owls

minor

Also known as the Owls, their, our

A group of owl characters who appear in various tales.

The Turkeys

minor

Also known as Turkeys, your

Birds that appear as characters, sometimes as helpers or in trickster tales.

Etawa

minor

Also known as old Etawa

An elder character mentioned in some Zuni narratives.

The Owl

minor

Also known as Owl, the old Owl, The Owl

A single owl character appearing in specific tales.

Locust

minor

Also known as the Locust, the old Locust, himself

An insect character who races or competes with others.

Mr. Cushing

minor

Also known as Cushing

The ethnographer who collected and translated these Zuni folktales.

The Beetle

minor

Also known as The Beetle, himself

A small insect character who interacts with Coyote.

The Ravens

minor

Also known as the two Ravens, The Ravens, their, our

Birds who race their eyes in a trickster tale with Coyote.

The Twain

minor

Also known as Twain

A pair of characters, often twins or companions, in certain stories.

The Poor Turkey Girl

supporting

Also known as the Turkey, the young Turkey

A poor girl who tends turkeys and has a transformative adventure.

Bison

minor

Also known as the fourfold Bison

A powerful animal character appearing in some tales.

The Rattlesnake

minor

A snake character who appears in stories explaining its nature.

The Maiden of Mátsaki

minor

Also known as Mátsaki

A maiden from Mátsaki who features in a specific tale.

Rattlesnakes

minor

Also known as the Rattlesnakes, their

A group of rattlesnakes appearing in an origin story.

The Storks

minor

Birds that appear as characters in certain tales.

Grandmother Spider

minor

Also known as Grandmother, your

A wise spider elder who helps or advises characters.

The Badger

minor

Also known as the old Badger, The old Badger

A burrowing animal character appearing in some stories.

The Badgers

minor

Also known as the old Badgers, The Badgers

A group of badger characters in certain tales.

The Ugly Wild Boy

minor

A wild boy who drives a bear away from a mesa.

Lesser Falcon

minor

Also known as the Lesser Falcon, himself

A bird of prey character appearing in some narratives.

Häki Suto

minor

A named character in certain Zuni tales.

The Old Gobbler

minor

An old turkey character appearing in some stories.

Grandfather Burrowing-Owl

minor

Also known as Grandfather, the Burrowing-owl, the Grandfather Burrowing-owl

An elder owl character who serves as a priest to prairie dogs.

The Crows

minor

Also known as their

Birds that appear in some tales, often as tricksters or helpers.

Misho Lizards

minor

Also known as Misho Lizards, Misho

Lizard characters appearing in certain Zuni stories.

Kólowissi

minor

A named character or spirit in Zuni mythology.

Páutiwa

minor

A Zuni deity or spirit character mentioned in tales.

Shúlawitsi

minor

A Zuni fire god or spirit appearing in some narratives.

The Centipede

minor

Also known as himself

A creepy-crawly character appearing in some tales.

The Horned-Toad

minor

A reptile character appearing in certain Zuni stories.

Locusts

minor

Also known as their, themselves

A group of locust characters in some tales.

The Raven

minor

Also known as himself

A single raven character appearing in some stories.

Awiteli Wakashi

minor

A named character in certain Zuni tales.

The Gray Wolf

minor

Also known as the Wolf

A wolf character appearing in some narratives.

Tchumali

minor

A named character in Zuni folklore.

Moki

minor

A place or character name appearing in some tales.

Waíhusiwa

minor

A named character in certain Zuni stories.

Mice

minor

Also known as the Mice, The Mice, their

Small rodent characters appearing in some tales.

Kutchi

minor

Also known as kutchi, your

A named character or term in Zuni narratives.

Brother

minor

A sibling character appearing in some tales.