Native American Legends
Spider Rock
A Navajo Legend
Spider Rock stands with awesome dignity and beauty over 800 feet
high in Arizona's colorful Canyon de Chelly National Park (pronounced
da Shay). Geologists of the National Park Service say that "the
formation began 230 million years ago.
Windblown sand swirled and compressed with time created the spectacular
red sandstone monolith. Long ago, the Dine (Navajo) Indian tribe
named it Spider Rock.
Stratified, multicolored cliff walls surround the canyon. For many,
many centuries the Dine (Navajo) built caves and lived in these
cliffs. Most of the caves were located high above the canyon floor,
protecting them from enemies and flash floods.
Spider Woman possessed supernatural power at the time of creation,
when Dine (Navajo) emerged from the third world into this fourth
world.
At that time, monsters roamed the land and killed many people.
Since Spider Woman loved the people, she gave power for Monster-
Slayer and Child- Born-of-Water to search for the Sun-God who was
their father. When they found him, Sun-God showed them how to destroy
all the monsters on land and in the water.
Because she preserved their people, Dine (Navajo) established Spider
Woman among their most important and honored Deities.
She chose the top of Spider Rock for her home. It was Spider Woman
who taught Dine (Navajo) ancestors of long ago the art of weaving
upon a loom. She told them, "My husband, Spider Man, constructed
the weaving loom making the cross poles of sky and Earth cords to
support the structure; the warp sticks of sun rays, lengthwise to
cross the woof; the healds of rock crystal and sheet lightning,
to maintain original condition of fibers. For the batten, he chose
a sun halo to seal joints, and for the comb he chose a white shell
to clean strands in a combing manner." Through many generations,
the Dine (Navajo) have always been accomplished weavers.
From their elders, Dine (Navajo) children heard warnings that if
they did not behave themselves, Spider Woman would let down her
web- ladder and carry them up to her home and devour them!
The children also heard that the top of Spider Rock was white from
the sun- bleached bones of Dine (Navajo) children who did not behave
themselves!
One day, a peaceful cave-dwelling Dine (Navajo) youth was hunting
in Dead Man's Canyon, a branch of Canyon de Chelly. Suddenly, he
saw an enemy tribesman who chased him deeper into the canyon. As
the peaceful Dine (Navajo) ran, he looked quickly from side to side,
searching for a place to hide or to escape.
Directly in front of him stood the giant obelisk-like Spider Rock.
What could he do? He knew it was too difficult for him to climb.
He was near exhaustion. Suddenly, before his eyes he saw a silken
cord hanging down from the top of the rock tower.
The Dine (Navajo) youth grasped the magic cord. which seemed strong
enough, and quickly tied it around his waist. With its help he climbed
the tall tower, escaping from his enemy who then gave up the chase.
When the peaceful Dine (Navajo) reached the top, he stretched out
to rest. There he discovered a most pleasant place with eagle's
eggs to eat and the night's dew to drink.
Imagine his surprise when he learned that his rescuer was Spider
Woman! She told him how she had seen him and his predicament. She
showed him how she made her strong web-cord and anchored one end
of it to a point of rock. She showed him how she let down the rest
of her web-cord to help him to climb the rugged Spider Rock.
Later, when the peaceful Dine (Navajo) youth felt assured his enemy
was gone, he thanked Spider Woman warmly and he safely descended
to the canyon floor by using her magic cord. He ran home as fast
as he could run, reporting to his tribe how his life was saved by
Spider Woman!
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