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[ Return to North American Dragons ] Location: Description: The piasa bird is a North American dragon, first seen in a carving on rocks by the Mississippi river. It has four taloned feet, wings, and scales covering it. This is unusual in Native American art, and there have been suggestions that the original accounts of this creature were not accurate. Whether the older tales are correct or not, the piasa is a stable part of the modern folklore of the area. The original rock art was destroyed, but a redone version can be found in the area today. The original carving was first reported by a travelling priest, Father Jacques Marquette. His description of the carving is well-known, and is as follows: "While skirting some rocks which by their height and length inspired awe, we saw upon one of them two painted monsters which at first made us afraid, and upon which the boldest savages dare not long rest their eyes. They are as large as a calf, have horns on their heads like those of a deer, a horrible look, red eyes, a beard like a tiger's, a face somewhat like a man's, a body covered with scales, and a tail so long that it winds all around the body, passing above the head and going back between the legs, ending in a fish's tail. Green, red and black are the three colors composing the picture." It was in 1836 that John Russell published the first retelling of the legend associated with it, as told to him by the Illini tribe. The basic legend goes that the Piasa did not always eat humans, but after coming across dead human meat, developed a taste for it. After that, the piasa ravaged the local area, and many died trying to fight it. Chief Ouatoga received a vision from the Great Spirit about how to kill the beast. Twenty of his warriors hid, armed with bows. Ouatoga stood out in the open as bait for the piasa. Soon enough, the piasa came, and went straight for Ouatoga. The hidden warriors fired their bows, arrows striking the piasa from all sides. The piasa died, and the carvings were made on the rocks to commemorate the act. |
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