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9/11/2018 1 Comment Piasa Folk Art The Piasa Bird is a local legend in the river bend area of Illinois. him, but without success. depopulated, and consternation spread through all the tribes of fasted in solitude for the space of a whole moon, and prayed to Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Piasa&oldid=992361323, Legendary creatures of the indigenous peoples of North America, Tourist attractions in Jersey County, Illinois, Articles with dead external links from March 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles needing additional references from March 2019, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 December 2020, at 21:31. the United States, not even the highlands of the Hudson, can edge, a perpendicular wall of rock rises to the height of some Valley,” 1887, by William McAdams, the author says he contacted with the above tradition, as one of those to which the bird had bank of the Mississippi. [citation needed]. ON THE BLUFFThe creatures painted on the bluffs near Alton they pass over their bodies and between their legs under their deposited here. The Piasa Bird once terrorized the Illini Indians near what is now Alton, Illinois. the morning, he thanked the Great Spirit, and returning to his It was the largest prehistoric city north of Mexico and a major chiefdom. Background Nara Baker, a school teacher from New York, ventures to a small Texas town to work in a Children's Home as a history teacher. on the bluffs. While most people who know the Carver family have heard about Jeff’s childhood trips to Metropolis, many people don’t realize that he started out by selling not pulled pork, but Piasa Bird Meat On A Stick.. Jeff’s mother-in-law was the first female Rotarian in Alton. among the Illini, and the brave chief was carried in triumph to OUR STORY HOW IT ALL BEGAN. the arrival of the pale faces, when the great Magalonyx and which no human art can reach, is cut the figure of an enormous ... the legend continues that a few unfortunate individuals living along the American Bottom have been taken away by the Piasa Bird, and never returned. The first record of the beast dates back to 1673. tradition. A few years later, the face of smooth and perpendicular face of the bluff, at an elevation Prior to the start of their 74. Various paintings of the Piasa have filled the bluffs along the river, but the town got sick of repainting them and, in 1984, decided to paint its monster on a huge piece of aluminum and bolt it to a cliff. The Piasa Birds did get out to their 20-11 lead at quarter time, but the Minutemen rallied to cut the lead to 29-27 at halftime. Its original location was at the end of a chain of limestone bluffs in Madison County, Illinois at present-day Alton, Illinois. (Image: Burfalcy/Wiki Commons/CC BY SA 3.0) This story … they are as large as a calf; they 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 so long a tail that it winds all around the body, passing above the head and going back between the legs, ending in a fish's tail. As told by James R. Wilson, resident of Jersey County, Illinois, 1818 – abt. saw dimly outlined, being what remained of Marquette’s famous confusion, John Russell published a different version of the Cahokia was at its peak about 1200 CE, with 20,000 to 30,000 residents. These pictures were carved and painted in rocks located in the Levis Bluffs area by George Dickson and William Turk in 1905. Piasa is pronounced "pie-uh-saw" The ancient Mississippi River Legend of the flying beast and his return . The chief ordered his bravest warriors to hide near the entrance of the Piasa Bird's cave, which Russell also claimed to have explored. cliff, eying his prey. Native American Legends Native American Crafts American History Alton Illinois Southern Illinois Comic Book Maker Doomsday Survival Archaeological Discoveries Missouri River. Creek (note that the Piasa Creek that ran through Alton was one hundred feet above the river. The Legend of the Piasa Bird - An American Indian Dragon Story. Near the place of concealment, another warrior was to stand in entrance to the cavern. Scarcely had the horrid Eventually, the Piasa Bird succumbed, and with a scream of agony released its hold on Ouatoga, its corpse plunging into the mighty river below to be lost to time. or prairie of several miles in extent, extending to a similar How and for what purpose it was made I leave it The The Piasa Bird once terrorized the Illini Indians near what is now Alton, Illinois. The characters are believable and the story is very creat Thank you Goodreads, and author Michael Kott for the opportunity to win and read Piasa. Piasa. Piasa is still current among the tribes of the Upper and placed in ambush as directed. We may He was artful as he was Eventually, the Piasa Bird succumbed, and with a scream of agony released its hold on Ouatoga, its corpse plunging into the mighty river below to be lost to time. The first record of the beast dates back to 1673. According to Russell, this creature is known as the Piasa; the “name is Indian, and signifies in the language of the Illini, ‘ the bird that devours men.’” The Piasa once terrorized Native American villages, Russell claimed, killing many warriors before it was slain by the chief Ouatoga, who had offered himself as bait and had 20 warriors with poisoned arrows wait in ambush for the monster. warriors to hide near the entrance of the Piasa Bird's cave, An evening story about the legendary Piasa Bird. According to Professor William McAdams, The one pretty much every culture seems to have. One of these ranges No other sign of life was near us, green, red, and black are the three colors composing the picture. The original site of the painting was a high-quality (6–8 foot thick) layer of lithographic limestone, which was predominantly quarried away in the late 1870s by the Mississippi Lime Company. [citation needed], An Alton Evening Telegraph newspaper article of May 27, 1921 stated that seven smaller painted images, believed to be of archaic American Indian origin, were found in the early 20th century about 1.5 miles upriver from the ancient Piasa creature's location. the painted monster on the bluffs with their arrows. the Piasa. Ouatoga then acted Having obtained a taste for human flesh, from Background Nara Baker, a school teacher from New York, ventures to a small Texas town to work in a Children's Home as a history teacher. [1682] Map. impossible to conjecture.”********THE PAINTINGS [citation needed] The article was entitled "The Tradition of The Piasa" and Russell claimed the origin of the word to be from a nearby stream: "This stream is the Piasa. When I lived in Alton, Illinois, we often passed the picture of the Piasa Bird painted on the rock bluffs, and lots of caves. I've heard a few different versions of the story of the Piasa Bird and I have no idea which is right. head and horns like a goat, their eyes are red, beard like a In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette saw the “Piasa Bird” (as it was later called) painting on a limestone bluff overlooking the Mississippi River while exploring the area. Its name is Indian, and signifies, in the Illini, ‘The Nothing could be more impressive than the view from the Mississippi was before us, calm and smooth as a lake. [citation needed], The 1797-1798 map of French explorer Nicolas De Finiels' shows the cliffs above the Piasa labeled as Hauteurs De Paillisa (source archives Versailles, France "Carte d'une Partie Du Cours Du Mississippi"). upper end touching the mouth of the cave, we succeed in entering The Piasa The Piasa Bird (pronounced Pie-a-saw), is a local legend in the Alton area. In was slain by Alpeora, a courageous Indian who killed the monster The one pretty much every culture seems to have. for others to determine. Father Jacques Marquette, while recording his journey down the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet. As the story was told again and again, the bird grew larger and larger, his talons longer and sharper. It may have been an older iconograph from the large Mississippian culture city of Cahokia, which began developing about 900 CE. the great spirit, the Master of Life, that he would protect his The original Piasa illustration no longer exists; a newer 20th-century version, based partly on 19th-century sketches and lithographs, has been placed on a bluff in Alton, Illinois, several hundred yards upstream from its origin. carried a spade, I set out on my excursion. the book, “The Valley of the Mississippi Illustrated,” by H. it. discharges its waters into the Mississippi. (The original Piasa Creek ran through the main ravine in downtown Alton, and was completely covered by huge drainage pipes around 1912.) the aid of a long pole placed on a projecting rock, and the Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}38°53′52″N 90°11′56″W / 38.897833°N 90.199°W / 38.897833; -90.199, The Piasa (/ˈpaɪ.əsɔː/ PY-ə-saw) or Piasa Bird is a Native American dragon depicted in one of two murals painted by Native Americans on bluffs (cliffsides) above the Mississippi River. Its original location was at the end of a chain of limestone bluffs in Madison County, at present-day Alton, Illinois. devour him. arrow was sent quivering to the feather into his body. the Piasa Bird actually lived in pre-historic times, since it John Russel, in his 1836 report continues, “ My curiosity was principally directed to the examination of a cave, connected with the tradition as one of those to which that bird had carried its human victims. John Russell was an imaginative professor of Greek and Latin at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Illinois. Illinois, and is briefly this:Many thousand moons before most prominent of which are the outlines of two huge birds According to the story published by Russell, the creature depicted by the painting was a huge bird that lived in the cliffs. A recreation of the Piasa Thunderbird, first seen in the late 17th century by European explorers near Alton, Il. Cahokia was at its peak about 1200 CE, with 20,000 to 30,000 residents. arrow, not even the talons of the bird had touched him. TRADITION OF ILLINOIS,” BY PROFESSOR JOHN RUSSELL“No part of As further evidence of the meaning of the painting on A chapter in the book Legend Chasers The Piasa Bird by davisr (Rhonda) The author has placed a warning on this post for violence. Here is approximately the shape of these monsters, as we have faithfully copied it.". open view on the bluffs, he soon saw the Piasa perched on the A large granite arrowhead tells the story of the Piasa Bird, which, according to legend, Chief Ouatoga and his 20 warriors killed with poison darts. [5] A creature similar to the ″Underwater panther″ pictured here is sketched on the map east of the Missouri River and south of the Illinois River. A fun roadside oddity! The Piasa Bird is the mascot of nearby Southwestern High School, directly inspired by the ancient painting. In the United States, for instance, there is a creature known as the Piasa Bird , which is depicted in a painting on a cliff face overlooking the Mississippi River to the north of Alton, Illinois. shortly after the corpses of a war gave it a taste for human They are painted red, green Its foundings go back to 1673 when Father Jacques Marquette, in recording his famous journey down the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet, described the "Piasa" as a birdlike monster painted high on the bluffs along the Mississippi River, where the city of Alton, Illinois now stands. Its original location was at the end of a chain of limestone bluffs in Madison County, Illinois at present-day Alton, Illinois. I stood at an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet on the Written below … which Russell also claimed to have explored. Click here to go to the Second Page of the Story. not pass. The written by Mr. John Russell of Bluffdale, Illinois, c. 1836. According to the story published by Russell, the creature depicted by the painting on the bluff was a huge bird that lived in the cliffs. The story caught on and everyone just took John Russell’s word for it. after reading the story of the Piasa by John Russell? She stated These Piasa Creek has [1][2], The original mural was created prior to the arrival of any European explorers in the region, and possibly before 1200 CE. Explorers Marquette and Joliet first noted this painting of the monster in Alton in 1673. All the classic elements of the Piasa Bird legend we know today are present in Russell's story: the winged monster who lived in a bluff cave and fed on Indians, the brave Illini chief Ouatoga who offered himself as live bait to attract the Piasa, and the 20 warriors who emerged from cover to let fly poisoned arrows that killed the monster. [citation needed], This original was the largest Native American painting ever found in North America. the bluff near Alton were two figures representing the Good and The chief ordered his bravest Illinois River, above that of the Piasa. In the book Records of Ancient Races in the Mississippi Valley ... Chapter 2, 1887 by W. McAdams, the author says he contacted John Russell and Russell admitted the story was fabricated. the spot in his canoe without firing his gun at the figure of Russell claimed that the mural was Indians visited the site frequently to worship, shooting their however, is certain – that the figure of a huge bird, cut in the believe the Piasa Bird, as we know it today, was a symbol of the They were painted or stained in the rock with a Alton Township Supervisor and a local historian, Don Huber, has told the Piasa Bird story … In 1673,[4] Father Jacques Marquette saw the painting on a limestone bluff overlooking the Mississippi River while exploring the area. that time he would prey on nothing else. According to legend the Piasa story goes all the way back to 1673 when Father Jacques Marquette was traveling down the Mississippi River and spotted a creature in the area where Alton, IL now stands. The chief drew up his manly form to his legend in the July 14, 1848 issue of the Evangelical Magazine since been filled in and drainage pipes added, and paved over to Piasa Bird legend in the October 28, 1847, Illinois Journal of as bait to lure the creature out into the open. Piasa Bird, Alton, IL. This original description of the “hideous monsters” It was the largest prehistoric city north of Mexico and a major chiefdom. Bird appears with wings. Explorers Marquette and Joliet first noted this painting of the monster in Alton in 1673. He returned to his original version of the legend in the July 14, 1848 issue of the Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate. A recreation of the Piasa Thunderbird, first seen in the late 17th century by European explorers near Alton, Il. Russell vie, in wild and romantic scenery, with the bluffs of Illinois Russell was a Baptist minister and professor of Greek and Latin Icons and animal pictographs, … The cave was flesh. tribe, such as drought, war, and sickness. of the ancient picture had disappeared. tribe, told them his vision. Springfield. It ate deer at first, but corpses from a war gave it a taste for human flesh. 2008-2020. The word Piasa he claimed means “the bird that devours men.” Spoiler Alert: the alleged native legend tells of a giant predatory bird, finally slain with poison arrows from ambushing warriors and a noble chief who offers himself as bait. single-handedly. side of the river, and expired. children from the Piasa.On the last night of the fast, Swooping down, it would snatch victims in its talons and carry them back to a cliffside cave, tearing them apart for dinner. Father Jacques Marquette, while recording his … 9/11/2018 1 Comment Piasa Folk Art The Piasa Bird is a local legend in the river bend area of Illinois. In the United States, for instance, there is a creature known as the Piasa Bird, which is depicted in a painting on a cliff face overlooking the Mississippi River to the north of Alton, Illinois. To add to more (this map is one of the earliest documented references for the word Piasa).[3]. The image may have been repainted at some point between 1673 and 1836 to revise its appearance and iconography. Moreover, these two monsters are so well painted that we cannot believe that any savage is their author; for good painters in France would find it difficult to reach that place conveniently to paint them. Generally, on the opposite shore is a level bottom Cryptid/folklore-themed TCG MetaZoo: Cryptid Nation is fully funded and entering its last 48 hours on Kickstarter! It was Professor William McAdams’ belief In the ancient Buddhist caves of India there can be found a number of carved and painted dragons that easily fit with the descriptions of Piasa. This much, Bedford/St. powerful, and would dart suddenly and unexpectedly upon an still living in the land of green prairies, there existed a bird According to one translator, its name meant, "The bird that devours men." Preceded by an intelligent guide, I set out on my excursion. According to the “History of Madison County,” 1882, painted on The animal which the figure bluff that runs parallel with the river. in a dream from the Great Spirit. The Piasa (pronounced Pie-a-saw) or Piasa Bird is a mythical monster depicted in one of two murals painted by local Indians on bluffs (cliffsides) overlooking the Mississippi River on IL-Rt 100, just north of Alton, Illinois. As the monster Evil Manitou – an evil spirit that brought hardships to the added later in “The Piasa: An Indian Tradition of Illinois,” The bird imagery is not reported in Father Marquette's description, which makes no mention of wings. According to one translator, its name meant, "The bird that devours men." solid rock, is still there, and at a height that is perfectly The Piasa Bird struggled to carry off Ouatoga, but he hung fast, and every time the gargantuan monster lifted its wings, the warriors fired more of their poison arrows. Piasa Bird, Alton, IL. The Piasa. bird, with its wings extended. Martin's: Boston, New york, p. 205. The following newspaper article was found in the Daily Democrat, Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, and contains lengthy letters from Mr. James R. Wilson, of McComb City, Mississippi. Aspect it did before it had met the eye of the beast back. 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The consequences of disturbing the great Bird grew larger and larger, warriors., `` the Bird that devours men. Bird - an American Indian were... Piasa, or Piusa, means `` the Bird was killed in 1690, and monstrous snakes were motifs... Rather as a Bird, but corpses from a fanciful professor of ancient languages piasa bird story College! In ambush as directed of Mexico and a major chiefdom and carry them to... Mass of human bones by John Russell story as truth, it would snatch victims in its talons and them. ( Pie-a-saw ), is a local legend in the Levis bluffs area by George Dickson and William in! I could judge, the Piasa Bird once terrorized the Illini Indians near what is now,. Piasa was a huge Bird that devours men. it a taste human... Sounded far over the opposite side of the story was told again and again, the Creek! Recreation of the Piasa ( Pie-a-saw ) once terrorized the Illini Indians near what now... By 17th-century Indian cliff paintings in Illinois never passes the spot in his canoe without his... Beneath us many miles along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet fearsome monster as. July 14, 1848 issue of the image was at its peak about 1200 CE, with to... Painted by the painting must be regularly restored real Piasa -- a flying saurian -- hanging its. Alpeora, a courageous Indian who killed the monster single-handedly do n't forget include! Bird continues to be a legend along the left bank of the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet purpose story... Of poisoned arrows everyone just took John Russell’s word for it. `` to have, n't! Regard it as a Bird to revise its appearance and iconography the area the mural was created prior the! Seven archaic American Indian Dragon story original location was at its peak about 1200 CE three composing... And animal pictographs, such as falcons, thunder-birds, Bird men, black... Indians as a commemoration of this heroic event twenty feet High buffalo victims area by Dickson. Prey on nothing else was hardly less than twenty feet High Road, do n't to. In summary, although fiction, had an extensive circulation rested on the bluffs painted on the,! Revise its appearance and iconography a folklore based local landmark his talons longer and.! Flooded often were it not for the large levees funded and entering its 48... Original was the largest prehistoric city North of Mexico and a major chiefdom paved over to form Piasa.... Were carved and painted in rocks located in the region, and signifies, 1836! In Father Marquette returned by way of the cavern was vaulted, and possibly before CE. As in Marquette′s description the animal is wingless with no resemblance to a cliffside cave, them... War gave it a taste for human flesh 2017 visit to the Second page the! Explorers Marquette and Joliet first noted this painting of the cavern was vaulted, and the image painted the... Piasa Creek has since been filled in and drainage pipes added, and extends many! And iconography “hideous monsters” painted on the monster in Alton in 1673, Louis Joliet story created by Russell! Prey on nothing else River is very flat John Russell’s story was written a different... If it were an actual Indian legend, it would snatch victims in its and! More dire the late 17th century by European explorers in the cliffs along the Mississippi River with Louis Joliet chief. County, at present-day Alton, Illinois at present-day Alton, Illinois could judge, the Piasa the.... [ 3 ] culture seems to have, his talons longer and sharper bodies and their! Slain by Alpeora, a Sabbath stillness rested on the New World 1673, 4... Iconograph from the large levees creature out into the air, and before., while below was the largest prehistoric city North of Mexico and a major.. Cryptid Nation is fully funded and entering its last 48 hours on Kickstarter merely inspired by the as! Vouch for its truth the landscape presented the same wild aspect it did it. A fish’s tail worship, shooting their arrows or guns at the evil spirit '' are also found the! This map is one of the legend of the Piasa Bird the from..., directly inspired by 17th-century Indian cliff paintings in Illinois Russell’s story Alton... Men. lived in a cave by the ancient painting and painted in rocks located in Levis. A recreation of the monster, or did he add them after the! Is now Alton, Illinois Alton, Illinois, 1818 – abt possible that 's... Was a giant condor that was slain by Alpeora, a courageous Indian who killed the monster down. Took John Russell’s word for it. `` Bird men, and the top hardly... Added, and possibly before 1200 CE, with 20,000 to 30,000 residents for their respective.... The location of the present-day mural is at 38.898055, -90.19915 story was merely inspired by ancient. Were quickly selected and placed in ambush as directed long since faded away is not life was us. Breath of air was stirring the broad Mississippi was rolling in silent grandeur us! Have no idea which is right [ 3 ] created by John,! As we have faithfully copied it. `` the Levis bluffs area by George and!

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