Legend and mythology

I came across a legend from the Cherokee people in a book I was reading the other day that I found interesting.

A long time ago there was an angel named Kalona, who had fallen from the skys down to earth into a tribe of Cherokee people. He made all the village bow down before him and his beauty.

The Cherokee people soon learned he did not belong there. He raped their women and become obsessed with bedding those he desired. He blamed the women for tempting him and made the men his slaves. The women who conceived Kalona's children bore half Ravem, half human immortals which were named the Raven Mockers.

A group of Ginghua women, who were wise women from different tribes, created a maiden made out of clay. They breathed life into her using the four elements, air, water, fire, and earth. Then the fastest Ginghua woman rubbed the maidens legs to make her fast, to run away from Kalona. They called her A-ya, which means "Me" In Cherokee, as to each Ginghua women A-ya was 'Me'. The wisest of them whispered instructions into A-ya's ear as they lead her to the lake where Kalona bathed every morning.

Kalona saw her and when he did, he knew he had to have her. She ran, and he chased after her. The Ginghua women had told A-ya to run into a cave, deep down into the earth because Kalona was a creature from the sky, and he could not escape the earth.

Kalona only had slight hesitation before following A-ya into the cave. When they were deep in the earth, A-ya stopped and threw her arms around him as she became clay again, and as the Ginghua women sealed the cave with a great boulder, trapping him there forever.

A-ya reminds me of Meg from the animated disney version of Hercules. She was made of clay, too, and I do love the classic animated disney films.



This song is one of my favourites at the moment.

"You're a Midas in reverse, you're the king of pain and hurt"

I remember learning about King Midas and his golden touch when I was in primary school. I think I might be having a greek mythology moment.

Many years ago there lived a king named Midas.

King Midas had one little daughter, whose name was Marigold.

King Midas was very, very rich. It was said that he had more gold than any other king in the world.

One room of his great castle was almost filled with yellow gold pieces.

At last the King grew so fond of his gold that he loved it better than anything else in all the world.

He even loved it better than his own little daughter, dear little rosy-cheeked Marigold. His one great wish seemed to be for more and more gold.

One day while he was in his gold room counting his money, a beautiful fairy boy stood before him.

The boy's face shone with a wonderful light, and he had wings on his cap and wings on his feet. In his hand he carried a strange-looking wand, and the wand also had wings.

"Midas, you are the richest man in the world," said the fairy. "There is no King who has so much gold as you."

"That may be," said the King. "As you see, I have this room full of gold, but I should like much more; for gold is the best and the most wonderful thing in the world."

"Are you sure?" asked the fairy.

"I am very sure," answered the King.

"If I should grant you one wish," said the fairy, "would you ask for more gold?"

"If I could have but one wish," said the King, "I would ask that everything I touch should turn to beautiful yellow gold."

"Your wish shall be granted," said the fairy. "At sunrise to-morrow morning your slightest touch will turn everything into gold. But I warn you that your gift will not make you happy."

"I will take the risk," said the King.

The next day King Midas awoke very early. He was eager to see if the fairy's promise had come true.

As soon as the sun arose he tried the gift by touching the bed lightly with his hand.


The bed turned to gold.

He touched the chair and table.

Upon the instant they were turned to solid gold.

The King was wild with joy.

He ran around the room, touching everything he could see. His magic gift turned all to shining, yellow gold.

The King soon felt hungry and went down to eat his breakfast. Now a strange thing happened. When he raised a glass of clear cold water to drink, it became solid gold.

Not a drop of water could pass his lips.

The bread turned to gold under his fingers.

The meat was hard, and yellow, and shiny.

Not a thing could he get to eat.

All was gold, gold, gold.

His little daughter came running in from the garden.

Of all living creatures she was the dearest to him.

He touched her with his lips.

At once the little girl was changed to a golden statue.


A great fear crept into the King's heart, sweeping all the joy out of his life.

In his grief he called and called upon the fairy who had given him the gift of the golden touch.

"O fairy," he begged, "take away this horrible golden gift! Take all my lands. Take all my gold. Take everything, only give me back my little daughter."

In a moment the beautiful fairy was standing before him.

"Do you still think that gold is the greatest thing in the world?" asked the fairy.

"No! no!" cried the King. "I hate the very sight of the yellow stuff."

"Are you sure that you no longer wish the golden touch?" asked the fairy.

"I have learned my lesson," said the King. "I no longer think gold the greatest thing in the world."

"Very well," said the fairy, "take this pitcher to the spring in the garden and fill it with water. Then sprinkle those things which you have touched and turned to gold."

The King took the pitcher and rushed to the spring. Running back he first sprinkled the head of his dear little girl. Instantly she became his own darling Marigold again, and gave him a kiss.

The King sprinkled the golden food, and to his great joy it turned back to real bread and real butter.

Then he and his little daughter sat down to breakfast. How good the cold water tasted! How eagerly the hungry King ate the bread and butter, the meat, and all the good food!

The King hated his golden touch so much that he sprinkled even the chairs and the tables and everything else that the fairy's gift had turned to gold.