HADENTHENI AND HANIGONGENDATHA Seneca

WARRIOR TWINS and CULTURE HEROES who were shunned by their people because
they did not know who their parents were. In accordance with the theme of warrior twins, Hadentheni and Hanigongendatha undertook an initiatory journey to find their father and become fully a part of their people.

At the beginning of their quest, the twins climbed a hemlock tree from which a trail led to the SKY. Following the trail, they came to the lodge of Kaahkwa, the SUN, who was their father but did not reveal himself as such. Instead, after a brief stay, he sent them on to the next lodge, the home of an elderly woman who was the MOON. She warned the twins of dangers ahead of them, gave them instructions, and sent them on. Each of the twins’ stops prepared them for the next stage in their quest. At the next lodge, they met a man who called himself their uncle. The uncle said that in order to finish their quest and complete their knowledge, they had to journey to the land of the dead. Before they could do this, though, they had to first be purified and transformed. The uncle then disassembled each twin in turn. He separated their bones from their flesh, purified the bones, and reassembled the twins by blowing on their bones.

After their purification and transformation, the twins traveled on to the longhouse of Hawenniyo, the home of the dead. There they were welcomed, instructed in lore, and watched a performance of the Green Corn DANCE. The twins were then sent back to their village to teach their people all that they had learned. When they arrived home, Hadentheni (the Speaker) sang the songs he had learned and taught the dances to the people. Hanigongendatha (the Interpreter) explained the meaning of the songs and dances. Their people then accepted them fully.

SOURCE:

Native American Mythology A to Z – ( first edition ) – Written by Patricia Ann Lynch – Copyright © 2004 by Patricia Ann Lynch