Mandan Myth of Emergence

[Lightkeeper]

From: http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/.../Mandanem.html

NOTE: As in the Navajo myth of the five worlds, emergence from an underground world is a theme in the myths of a number of North American peoples. Here is the myth of the and the Mandan Sioux and the Mojave Apache, who lived in the southwestern deserts not far from the Navajo, which comes to us from the Dakotas, thousands of miles from the home of the Mojave.*

The earliest people lived under the ground near a beautiful lake. Once, a great grapevine grew above their home. A root from the grapevine poked down into the village of the underground people. A few of the most courageous then climbed the vine into the world above.

http://www.meta-religion.com/World_R..._emergence.htm
When these explorers returned, they reported that the world above was more beautiful than anything they had imagined, teeming with fish and game, full of light and beautiful flowers. Soon large numbers of people began climbing the vine into the new world above.

One day, however, an obese woman began to climb and the root broke, leaving half of the people underground, where they remain to this day. When we die, we rejoin our cousins under the earth.


*The Mojave Apache myth is virtually identical to the Mandan myth-with only one difference. In the Mojave version, a hummingbird is first sent to the world above as a guide.

What is the significance of such myths? Are they representative of successive stages of cultural development or consciousness? Are they evolutionary?

[melybee]

2006 and no replies
Hope you don't mind my posting in a several years old thread!
I have been searching for any threads about evidence of past civilisations here on earth, pre bible, pre everything we know and came upon this thread. I find this interesting and had not heard of this before though I have read of the Mandan. Maybe I was not paying attention before. I am pretty sure this belief of the Mandans and Apache has similar stories elsewhere from other groups so I will have to have a good search to try to find them.
I have read quite a few theories, some with scientific and archaeological evidence of possible past nuclear disaster on our planet many ages ago. Is it possible? I don't know. Also is the evidence of strange tunnel systems in various parts of the world. Is this what the Mandan are speaking of maybe?
Which brings me to quite a disturbing thought. Could our very own ancestors, those that survived with technology have been the gods
that mankind worshiped? If so, are the conflicting opinions and indeed wars and hatred brought on by religious beliefs, an ancient battle still being carried out in our present time? I really don't think I am expressing my thoughts well here but can't think of how else to say it hrm.

[Lightkeeper]

I doesn't seem much different from Plato's Cave allegory. They are all about coming from the darkenss into the light.