Book

Maasaw: profile of a Hopi god

University of Nebraska Press11 • Published In 1987 • Pages: ix, 273

By: Malotki, Ekkehart, Lomatuway'ma, Michael.

Abstract
The god Maasaw is without doubt one of the most important beings in the entire pantheon of Hopi mythological figures. His pervasiveness in Hopi culture is reflected in the great variety of folk beliefs associated with him as a god, as well as the numerous tales in which he acts as the protagonist. This document investigates the rise in status of Maasaw from that of a prankster and trickster to that of a near-monotheistic divinity. The author describes his many roles as god of death and ruler of the underworld, aboriginal proprietor of the earth, the owner of fire and crops, the maker of all things animal and vegetable, the giver and caretaker of life, the defender of Hopi ways, and as a powerful war deity. Today (1990s) Maasaw …"is regarded as either Satan or Great Spirit within Hopi society" (p. 4).
Subjects
Fire
Drama
Mythology
Eschatology
Spirits and gods
Organized ceremonial
Texts in the speaker's language
Texts translated into english
culture
Hopi
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 1999
Field Date
1984-1985
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Second and Third Mesa pueblos, northeastern Arizona, United States
Notes
Ekkehart Malotki, Michael Lomatuway'ma ; drawings by Petra Roeckerath
Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-268)
LCCN
87000163
LCSH
Hopi Indians