Tavakaiv – Sun Mountain
Hello, my name is Mateo, I live in Colorado Springs, CO - Right under the watchful gaze of Pikes Peak that has been part of modern and ancient history as the first mountain of the Front Range. The slogan “Pikes Peak or bust” can be traced back to the Colorado gold rush. When treasure hunters were headed west, they would know they had made it when they saw Pikes Peak in the distance. Ending their long travel over the Great Plains. The Spanish revered the mountain as El Capitan (The Captain) and was debatably a reference point when disputing boundary marks between the French and Americans. Many-a-poor fur trappers made their way to the Santa Fe and Mexico City prisons for trespassing. Then of course, when Jefferson was elected to the office as president, and bought the Louisiana Purchase he sent two expeditions to check it out. The more notable one was Louis and Clark and the other from which the mountain is now named by, Zebulon Pike. Though, to be fair Zebulon wanted the mountain named Grand Peak and thought it was the highest mountain in North America (perhaps from native lore). Sadly, he is less remembered because he and his party got captured by the Spanish going through a pass in the San Louis Valley by the Great Sand Dunes.
The natives however had stories of their own, going back far older in antiquity of what the mountain itself represented. The Tabeguache or Utes of the area as they are now known trace their origins to the mountain itself and say they were dropped off there by the god Coyote, tasked by the maker of mankind - Sinauf. In the different versions there is one commonality, mankind falls or escapes on Coyotes journey to the mountain where they are to be dropped off. Only a few make it and become the chosen. One striking anomaly among the Ute is that in their stories, they originated in the Pikes Peak area where as many other native tribes have migration stories in their history of how they got to there new home where they resided when the first documented Europeans arrived. Pikes Peak forms part of their flood myth, in which the mountain was formed by the lesser spirits (whom caused the flood) who where trying to escape back into the heaven from the rising waters. It is said the lesser spirits came from the east, from a great river, from there, to the mountains – where the gateway to heaven rests. The couple that survives the flood, makes their way to Pikes Peak, where the Lesser Spirits threw all the rich earth they were trying to take with them in a huge pile… forming what is now the mountain. The Lesser Spirits must have been quite disappointed when the Great Spirit told them they could not bring all that material up into heaven with them. After the flood, the Lesser Spirits took pity on the children of the survivors of the flood that was caused by them to wipe mankind off the face of the earth. They gave mankind an upgrade so to speak, making them smarter and stronger and able to rule themselves with the Lesser Spirits guidance. Eventually a dragon was sent to drink up all the flood waters, it could not fly back being bloated with water and died to form what is now Cheyenne Mountain where the NORAD installation is now housed. The Great Spirit blessed the water flowing out of the Dragons body, which makes up the sacred healing fountains of Manitou Springs, now a tourist destination at the foot of the great mountain. Later, three Lesser Spirits descended from the mountain to teach the people civilization. They built for themselves great houses that are now the rock formations of Garden of the Gods, Glen Erie and the rock formations adjacent to the north. Eventually the Spirits left, things went bad with the people and there where two large migrations to the South West following the rising sun. Here is a good link to a Google book that so far has been most insightful; it’s not perfect. For example, I have been told that Manitou, which is used in the book, is not local to the Utes. Though, what I can tell you is, is that out of the other sources and references I have come across, I feel this one has the most to offer. Started in 1858 and later published in Denver in 1905. It is my hope that it retains some more accuracy of the local region. I have also read and have been told that Europeans deliberately modified native stories to favor a Christian theme. If this is the case, then all the sources I have acquired are mute and if this is indeed the true and someone has proof of a different Ute story to corroborate with, then please tell me. If none arise, then this is the data I will move forward with. [books.google.com].
Now that we have some of the basics covered of the Ute stories, id like to add a little more and similarities that I feel I keep seeing popping up in other ancient stories I read. Pikes Peak was known as the stairway to heaven, when viewed from Colorado Springs, the smaller mountains leading up to Pikes Peak form the steps to the top that the lesser spirits would use to access heaven and return. There have been suggestions that the Aztecs (Mexicans) and the Nahua peoples may even trace part of their ancestry to Pikes Peak. Aztlan was where the Mexican and ancestor tribes claimed to have come from before heading down to Mexico. Old Spanish maps place the location at the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Though, before that, they emerged from caves, seven to be precise. This could very well be traced back to the sacred caves in Colorado Springs, that are now the known tourist attraction – Cave of the Winds. The caves, up to this day have not been fully explored. I myself have encountered huge collapsed cavities in Red Rocks Canyon Open Spaces, suggesting many more caverns whose entrances have been lost to time are still present in the area. The route from Mexico up to Pikes Peak was well known by the natives as a pilgrimage and eventually used by the Spanish in their search for gold and for eventually settling the area in the New Mexico territory. Who knows, the treasure of Montezuma, if the theory is correct may very well be hidden in the Pikes Peak area, where the physical manifestation of the Great Spirit has his ever-watchful gaze.
Im sure, those that are familiar will find reference of the story of the sacred peak, its functions and storyline very similar to others in nearly every continent. Mount Olympus and Othrys for the Greeks, Tai Shan in China, Mt Sinai in Egypt, Mt Ararat in Turkey, Mt Fuji in Japan, and Mt Yengo in Australia to name a few that posses very similar qualities. There are plenty of other sacred mountains that hold up the world, serve as boundaries, but the stairways to heaven are unique in their function and description. I am sure there are more (like the Incas association to the mountains and connection to gods departing and coming down to earth) that I have not written that would easily fill these criteria. These stories share so many similarities in function and purpose that I have no choice but to see connections from worlds and cultures apart. The keywords seem to be prominent in defining even though there is slight change based on culture and environment.
Now, I have been told, and others have refuted this connection by a simple interpretation of psychology and natural human interpretation, which is at some degree a satisfactory conclusion. That being that man will naturally create the same interpretations based on their locations and environment. If a group is by mountains, because we are similar in function, shape and mental capabilities we will naturally build such archetypes that give rise to similar stories from one continent to another. Yet, as this is a very good answer, another example to refute alternative interpretations to the stairway to heaven stories has been examples that show entirely different interpretations to explain the heavens, earth and creation. Take the great rock in Australia – Uluru or Ayers Rock. Its interpretation and connection with heaven and earth and function is much different than the stairway to heaven motif. This is what I would expect to see all over the world when examining mythos, not striking similarities that stand out in detail. It is ironic that these examples that were meant to refute my intrigue. In fact further aided in my conviction. Granted, this is my interpretation, when it comes down to it, it is a subjective answer that lies in psychology and philosophy of what ever the true psyche perceives and hope that our interpretation of ancient man is right in order for this version of how mythology and its similarities evolved. I cannot completely refute this theory, because it is satisfactory to some extent with the information at hand. Though, that does not stop me from finding alternative interpretations that are just as satisfactory. With that being said, I find it fascinating what the connection may suggest. I am left with two scenarios that prove for me to be possibilities. The first, that there was mother civilization that begot a culture that ether spread out over the world or visited different parts of the world for other cultures and people to adopt. The second being, that the same events took place at different times and different places or all at once worldwide. That’s as far as I have gotten in what these connections may suggest. Ive dived into written mythology or as I like to think, ancient stories. I’ve focused on the Sumerians ( [etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk] ), which to my interpretations clearly speak of the gods as men performing mortal functions – to other (what I assume are later text) of gods with supernatural capabilities. I see a mesh of ancient text in which the gods are clearly depicted as celestial bodies and their movements. To then ancient man taking on the names of the gods for their own exploits. Later, I think it is clear that later text refer to these revered mortals as the gods that are attributed to the great celestial bodies that were first venerated. Though, I cant but wonder that sometimes in between the lines, certain texts allude to something much more ancient, a time where only pieces and fragments were remembered, where a jigsaw puzzle takes shape and you see slight glimpses of a past far removed from our own in which only bits are seen. There is, what I think to be supporting evidence of cyclopean construction in various parts of the world further suggesting the presence of another time that has been long lost with only small portions remaining to make us assume, conjecture and wonder.
If this is indeed from a mother civilization of sorts, if we are to assume with the data we have, where did it start? How long ago? I once thought the Sumerian text held the key, but so far I feel it only speaks of a time after an even older age of man.
I investigate Pikes Peak, exploring its forests and boulder fields for evidence in hopes that the stories are true. The only information that perhaps this mountain played some role is the anomaly among the Utes and their lack of a migration story. That they indeed started in the Pikes Peak area and that the events of their past is placed in the physical location of the peak itself. Though, I am here writing this today not to so much in sharing my thoughts, but more in the pursuit of truth, and knowledge. That I may find a small inkling of data that will further refine my search and if I’m lucky - some revelations.
I am fully aware of the differing theories out there, I have written some already here. I have posted in other forums seeking the opinions of others in this perspective. There is no doubt that there is lacking information for a satisfactory conclusion. So I ask for conjecture, assumption and guesses. Any data relevant is gold. I would ask if your only goal is to argue that you go elsewhere. Like I said before, the data is limited and therefore many gaps. The goal here is to build a hypothetical paradigm in order to ask the right questions in an effort to find answers.
Thank you for your time and reading what I had to say, I do hope you can aid me on this quest into the unknown, into the darkness of history and time. That in dark we may humbly light a match and build a fire and with it enlighten ourselves to the world around us.
-Mateo
Hello, my name is Mateo, I live in Colorado Springs, CO - Right under the watchful gaze of Pikes Peak that has been part of modern and ancient history as the first mountain of the Front Range. The slogan “Pikes Peak or bust” can be traced back to the Colorado gold rush. When treasure hunters were headed west, they would know they had made it when they saw Pikes Peak in the distance. Ending their long travel over the Great Plains. The Spanish revered the mountain as El Capitan (The Captain) and was debatably a reference point when disputing boundary marks between the French and Americans. Many-a-poor fur trappers made their way to the Santa Fe and Mexico City prisons for trespassing. Then of course, when Jefferson was elected to the office as president, and bought the Louisiana Purchase he sent two expeditions to check it out. The more notable one was Louis and Clark and the other from which the mountain is now named by, Zebulon Pike. Though, to be fair Zebulon wanted the mountain named Grand Peak and thought it was the highest mountain in North America (perhaps from native lore). Sadly, he is less remembered because he and his party got captured by the Spanish going through a pass in the San Louis Valley by the Great Sand Dunes.
The natives however had stories of their own, going back far older in antiquity of what the mountain itself represented. The Tabeguache or Utes of the area as they are now known trace their origins to the mountain itself and say they were dropped off there by the god Coyote, tasked by the maker of mankind - Sinauf. In the different versions there is one commonality, mankind falls or escapes on Coyotes journey to the mountain where they are to be dropped off. Only a few make it and become the chosen. One striking anomaly among the Ute is that in their stories, they originated in the Pikes Peak area where as many other native tribes have migration stories in their history of how they got to there new home where they resided when the first documented Europeans arrived. Pikes Peak forms part of their flood myth, in which the mountain was formed by the lesser spirits (whom caused the flood) who where trying to escape back into the heaven from the rising waters. It is said the lesser spirits came from the east, from a great river, from there, to the mountains – where the gateway to heaven rests. The couple that survives the flood, makes their way to Pikes Peak, where the Lesser Spirits threw all the rich earth they were trying to take with them in a huge pile… forming what is now the mountain. The Lesser Spirits must have been quite disappointed when the Great Spirit told them they could not bring all that material up into heaven with them. After the flood, the Lesser Spirits took pity on the children of the survivors of the flood that was caused by them to wipe mankind off the face of the earth. They gave mankind an upgrade so to speak, making them smarter and stronger and able to rule themselves with the Lesser Spirits guidance. Eventually a dragon was sent to drink up all the flood waters, it could not fly back being bloated with water and died to form what is now Cheyenne Mountain where the NORAD installation is now housed. The Great Spirit blessed the water flowing out of the Dragons body, which makes up the sacred healing fountains of Manitou Springs, now a tourist destination at the foot of the great mountain. Later, three Lesser Spirits descended from the mountain to teach the people civilization. They built for themselves great houses that are now the rock formations of Garden of the Gods, Glen Erie and the rock formations adjacent to the north. Eventually the Spirits left, things went bad with the people and there where two large migrations to the South West following the rising sun. Here is a good link to a Google book that so far has been most insightful; it’s not perfect. For example, I have been told that Manitou, which is used in the book, is not local to the Utes. Though, what I can tell you is, is that out of the other sources and references I have come across, I feel this one has the most to offer. Started in 1858 and later published in Denver in 1905. It is my hope that it retains some more accuracy of the local region. I have also read and have been told that Europeans deliberately modified native stories to favor a Christian theme. If this is the case, then all the sources I have acquired are mute and if this is indeed the true and someone has proof of a different Ute story to corroborate with, then please tell me. If none arise, then this is the data I will move forward with. [books.google.com].
Now that we have some of the basics covered of the Ute stories, id like to add a little more and similarities that I feel I keep seeing popping up in other ancient stories I read. Pikes Peak was known as the stairway to heaven, when viewed from Colorado Springs, the smaller mountains leading up to Pikes Peak form the steps to the top that the lesser spirits would use to access heaven and return. There have been suggestions that the Aztecs (Mexicans) and the Nahua peoples may even trace part of their ancestry to Pikes Peak. Aztlan was where the Mexican and ancestor tribes claimed to have come from before heading down to Mexico. Old Spanish maps place the location at the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Though, before that, they emerged from caves, seven to be precise. This could very well be traced back to the sacred caves in Colorado Springs, that are now the known tourist attraction – Cave of the Winds. The caves, up to this day have not been fully explored. I myself have encountered huge collapsed cavities in Red Rocks Canyon Open Spaces, suggesting many more caverns whose entrances have been lost to time are still present in the area. The route from Mexico up to Pikes Peak was well known by the natives as a pilgrimage and eventually used by the Spanish in their search for gold and for eventually settling the area in the New Mexico territory. Who knows, the treasure of Montezuma, if the theory is correct may very well be hidden in the Pikes Peak area, where the physical manifestation of the Great Spirit has his ever-watchful gaze.
Im sure, those that are familiar will find reference of the story of the sacred peak, its functions and storyline very similar to others in nearly every continent. Mount Olympus and Othrys for the Greeks, Tai Shan in China, Mt Sinai in Egypt, Mt Ararat in Turkey, Mt Fuji in Japan, and Mt Yengo in Australia to name a few that posses very similar qualities. There are plenty of other sacred mountains that hold up the world, serve as boundaries, but the stairways to heaven are unique in their function and description. I am sure there are more (like the Incas association to the mountains and connection to gods departing and coming down to earth) that I have not written that would easily fill these criteria. These stories share so many similarities in function and purpose that I have no choice but to see connections from worlds and cultures apart. The keywords seem to be prominent in defining even though there is slight change based on culture and environment.
Now, I have been told, and others have refuted this connection by a simple interpretation of psychology and natural human interpretation, which is at some degree a satisfactory conclusion. That being that man will naturally create the same interpretations based on their locations and environment. If a group is by mountains, because we are similar in function, shape and mental capabilities we will naturally build such archetypes that give rise to similar stories from one continent to another. Yet, as this is a very good answer, another example to refute alternative interpretations to the stairway to heaven stories has been examples that show entirely different interpretations to explain the heavens, earth and creation. Take the great rock in Australia – Uluru or Ayers Rock. Its interpretation and connection with heaven and earth and function is much different than the stairway to heaven motif. This is what I would expect to see all over the world when examining mythos, not striking similarities that stand out in detail. It is ironic that these examples that were meant to refute my intrigue. In fact further aided in my conviction. Granted, this is my interpretation, when it comes down to it, it is a subjective answer that lies in psychology and philosophy of what ever the true psyche perceives and hope that our interpretation of ancient man is right in order for this version of how mythology and its similarities evolved. I cannot completely refute this theory, because it is satisfactory to some extent with the information at hand. Though, that does not stop me from finding alternative interpretations that are just as satisfactory. With that being said, I find it fascinating what the connection may suggest. I am left with two scenarios that prove for me to be possibilities. The first, that there was mother civilization that begot a culture that ether spread out over the world or visited different parts of the world for other cultures and people to adopt. The second being, that the same events took place at different times and different places or all at once worldwide. That’s as far as I have gotten in what these connections may suggest. Ive dived into written mythology or as I like to think, ancient stories. I’ve focused on the Sumerians ( [etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk] ), which to my interpretations clearly speak of the gods as men performing mortal functions – to other (what I assume are later text) of gods with supernatural capabilities. I see a mesh of ancient text in which the gods are clearly depicted as celestial bodies and their movements. To then ancient man taking on the names of the gods for their own exploits. Later, I think it is clear that later text refer to these revered mortals as the gods that are attributed to the great celestial bodies that were first venerated. Though, I cant but wonder that sometimes in between the lines, certain texts allude to something much more ancient, a time where only pieces and fragments were remembered, where a jigsaw puzzle takes shape and you see slight glimpses of a past far removed from our own in which only bits are seen. There is, what I think to be supporting evidence of cyclopean construction in various parts of the world further suggesting the presence of another time that has been long lost with only small portions remaining to make us assume, conjecture and wonder.
If this is indeed from a mother civilization of sorts, if we are to assume with the data we have, where did it start? How long ago? I once thought the Sumerian text held the key, but so far I feel it only speaks of a time after an even older age of man.
I investigate Pikes Peak, exploring its forests and boulder fields for evidence in hopes that the stories are true. The only information that perhaps this mountain played some role is the anomaly among the Utes and their lack of a migration story. That they indeed started in the Pikes Peak area and that the events of their past is placed in the physical location of the peak itself. Though, I am here writing this today not to so much in sharing my thoughts, but more in the pursuit of truth, and knowledge. That I may find a small inkling of data that will further refine my search and if I’m lucky - some revelations.
I am fully aware of the differing theories out there, I have written some already here. I have posted in other forums seeking the opinions of others in this perspective. There is no doubt that there is lacking information for a satisfactory conclusion. So I ask for conjecture, assumption and guesses. Any data relevant is gold. I would ask if your only goal is to argue that you go elsewhere. Like I said before, the data is limited and therefore many gaps. The goal here is to build a hypothetical paradigm in order to ask the right questions in an effort to find answers.
Thank you for your time and reading what I had to say, I do hope you can aid me on this quest into the unknown, into the darkness of history and time. That in dark we may humbly light a match and build a fire and with it enlighten ourselves to the world around us.
-Mateo