The Serpent of the Sea

In a village called Kʻiákime, a beautiful maiden, daughter of the priest-chief, is obsessed with cleanliness, frequently washing her clothes in a sacred spring dedicated to Kólowissi, the Serpent of the Sea. Her actions anger the deity, who decides to intervene. One day, she discovers a child playing in the spring, which she believes to be abandoned. She takes the child home, neglecting her family's concerns about the sacred waters. As she plays with the child, it transforms into a serpent, coiling around her as she falls asleep. When her family realizes she is missing, they find her trapped with the serpent. The priest, her father, prays to Kólowissi for her release, promising atonement. The serpent loosens its coils, allowing the maiden to escape, but she must now face the consequences of her actions. The priest gathers the villagers to perform sacred rites and prepares his daughter for a journey to the Serpent of the Sea, indicating that she must leave her home forever. Dressed in ceremonial attire, she is led to the spring, where the serpent appears and transforms into a handsome young man. He reassures her, revealing that he is the serpent and expresses his love for her. As they journey together, the maiden overcomes her fear and shame, ultimately forgetting her past and embracing her new life with the young man in the waters of the world. The tale concludes with a warning about the sacredness of springs, emphasizing their importance and the need to respect them.

By Frank Hamilton Cushing · First published 1883 · Genre: Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy · 3,270 words

First lines

Note

The priest of the Kʻiáklu or epic-ritual of Zuni is never allowed to initiate the telling of short folk-stories. If he make such a beginning, he must complete the whole cycle before he ceases his recital or his listeners relax their attention. The following tale was told by an attendant Indian (not a priest), whose name is Waíhusiwa.

What this Textopian page supports

The Serpent of the Sea is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank Hamilton Cushing, dated 1883 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Frank Hamilton Cushing
• Date: 1883 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mythology, Folklore, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
• Length: 3,270 words
• Structure: 1 section, 50 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Serpent of the Sea by Frank Hamilton Cushing
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Serpent of the Sea?
• How does this short story by Frank Hamilton Cushing fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mythology first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

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Genres

• Mythology — The story is rooted in Zuni mythology, featuring a deity and sacred rituals.
• Folklore — The narrative style and cultural elements align with traditional folk tales.
• Fantasy — The presence of magical beings and transformations indicates a fantasy genre.
• Adventure — The maiden's journey and encounters with the Serpent suggest an adventurous plot.

Tags

Mythology · Folklore · Anthropology · Cultural Studies · Symbolism · Serpent Mythology · Sea Serpent · Maritime Culture · Native American Studies · Ethnography · Indigenous Cultures · Symbolic Language

More by Frank Hamilton Cushing

• The Trial of Lovers (1887)
• The Youth and his Eagle (1889)
• The Poor Turkey Girl (1881)
• How the Summer Birds Came (1883)
• The Maiden of the Yellow Rocks (1883)
• The Foster-Child of the Deer (1883)
• The Boy Hunter who Never Sacrificed to the Deer he had Slain (1883)
• How Áhaiyúta and Mátsailéma Stole the Thunder-Stone and the Lightning-Shaft (1883)
• All works by Frank Hamilton Cushing