Below the Earth’s crust lies a mysterious world, a realm filled with magma, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Can life exist in such a harsh environment? Could an ancient civilization thrive there?
These questions have always sparked human imagination and generated numerous myths and legends. There is a Native American tribe on the American continent known as the Hopi, whose mythology includes many stories about the underground world. They claim to have encountered beings from below the surface and received assistance from them. Some of these underground beings resemble ants, some look like spiders, and others like snakes, all possessing extraordinary abilities and intelligence.
The Hopi are one of the Native American tribes originating from ancient peoples living in the Southwestern United States. The history of the Hopi dates back thousands of years, making this culture one of the oldest in the world.
The Hopi are a Native American tribe located in northeastern Arizona. Their ancestors may have originated around 500 BCE. Their language belongs to the Uto-Aztecan family. A notable feature of the Hopi is that their men do not grow facial hair. However, their ceremonial props include imagery of beards, and bearded deities appear in their legends.
The Hopi explain this by saying their deity is depicted with a beard. They believe that beards are a mark of humanity, with different styles symbolizing various roles and identities. However, the Hopi do not need to have beards because their roles and identities are determined by the divine.
The original name of the Hopi is Hopituh Shi-nu-mu, meaning People of Peace. Their concepts of ethics and morality are deeply ingrained in Hopi tradition, implying respect for all living beings. Traditionally, they live according to the laws of the Creator, Maasaw. The Hopi believe their deities emerged from the earth, in contrast to other mythologies where deities come from the sky. Their mythology suggests that ants, specifically the Ant People, reside at the Earth’s center.
An important theme in Hopi mythology is the underground world. The Hopi believe that the underground realm is filled with dangers and wonders. Numerous beings inhabit this world, with varied forms and characteristics—some resembling ants, some spiders, and others snakes, all possessing extraordinary traits.
The Hopi see these underground beings as their friends and teachers. When disasters strike the Earth, these beings help the Hopi escape to the underground world, where they can live and learn. When the disasters pass, they return the Hopi to the Earth’s surface to continue their lives.
To express gratitude for the kindness of the underground beings, the Hopi show their reverence in various ways, such as mimicking the appearance of these beings by creating large fake beards or styling their hair in a special manner. They also paint murals depicting the underground world. Interestingly, the Hopi refer to the Ant People as Anunnaki, the same name as the Sumerian deity mentioned in the Chronicles of Earth.
Across the Southwestern United States, we find petroglyphs (rock carvings or pictographs), cave paintings representing entities with slender bodies, large eyes, and bulbous heads, sometimes with protruding beards. These mysterious figures are often depicted in prayer postures, with elbows and knees bent at right angles, similar to the bent legs of ants. Many believe that these ant-like creatures resemble modern ideas of extraterrestrial life, and some suggest that the Hopi tribe has seen and interacted with extraterrestrial beings.
The myths and legends of the Hopi are integral to their culture and beliefs, reflecting their understanding and respect for the natural and spiritual worlds, as well as their identity and resilience in their mission and identity.
The legends and tales of the Hopi also spark interest and curiosity among many. Some believe that the Hopi legends may have some scientific basis, such as the underground world possibly referring to a system of underground caves. The beings from below could indicate some ancient civilizations or races… Of course, these are merely speculations without convincing evidence, yet they demonstrate the irresistible allure of the Hopi legends, helping us grasp the mysteries of the underground world and fostering our imagination and exploration.
