Atahensic

Atahensic, also known as Sky Woman, is an Iroquois sky goddess. Atahensic is associated with marriage, childbirth, and feminine affairs in general.

According to legend, at the time of creation, Atahensic lived in the Upper World, but when digging up a tree, it left a hole in the ground that led to a great sky, under which was water. Atahensic fell through this hole. After her fall, birds carried her down the hole onto the water. A giant turtle then emerged from the underground waters for her to rest on. She then gave birth to her twin sons: Hahgwehdiyu () and Hahgwehdaetgah (). Hahgwehdiyu was born normally; Hahgwehdaetgah, the evil twin, killed Atahensic by bursting out of her side during birth. When Atahensic died, Hahgwehdiyu created the sky and, with her head, the Sun. Hahgwehdaetgah, however, created darkness to drive down the sun. Hahgwehdiyu then created the Moon and Stars from his mother's breasts, and tasked them, his sisters, to guard the night sky. He gave the rest of his mother's body to the earth, the Great Mother from whom all life came. Hahgwehdiyu then planted a seed into his mother's corpse. From this seed grew corn, as a gift to mankind.