A lost man stumbled upon the home of three wind gods, unaware of their identity. Their mother welcomed him, hiding him in a large urn when her giant sons returned. Despite sensing human presence, the wind gods were assured no one was there. Once they slept, their mother freed the man and safely sent him on his way, sparing his life.
Source
Ethnology of the Mayas of
Southern and Central British Honduras
by John Eric Thompson
Field Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Series, Pub.274, Vol.17.2
Chicago, 1930
► Themes of the story
Cunning and Deception: The mother employs cleverness to conceal the man from her sons, ensuring his safety.
Guardian Figures: The mother acts as a protector, safeguarding the man from potential harm by her wind god sons.
Conflict with Nature: The man’s encounter with the wind gods symbolizes a direct interaction with natural forces.
► From the same Region or People
A man was lost in the forest. After wandering for some time, he arrived at the home of the three wind gods, but he did not know that they lived there. Their mother welcomed him, and prepared him food.
Later when her three sons were due back, she hid the man in a large pottery urn. When the three wind gods arrived, there was a regular whirlwind. Everything was blown about the hut, the hammocks swung frantically, and there was general confusion.
Gradually the place calmed down once more.
► Continue reading…
“We smell chicosapote (sapodilla),” cried the three sons, for they were giants, and that was the term all giants use to describe human flesh. Their mother, however, assured them that no human was around. After they had eaten, they got into their hammocks. When at last they slept, their mother helped the man out of the urn in which he was hidden, and sent him on his way.
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Dreamtime Whispers 