Malina (mythology)

Malina is a solar deity in Inuit religion.[1] She is found most commonly in the legends of Greenland that link her closely with the lunar deity Anningan (also called Igaluk), her brother.[2] Malina is constantly fleeing from Anningan as the result of strife between the two (legends vary as to the cause). Their constant chase is the traditional explanation for the movement of the Sun and Moon through the sky.

Representation of Malina (Sukh-eh-nukh).

Story

According to Inuit mythology, Igaluk and his sister Malina lived together in a village. They were very close when young, but came to live apart as they grew older, in the lodges for women and for men. One day, as Igaluk looked at the women, he found that his older sister was the most beautiful. He took notice of the unique material her clothes were made of. And so that night, when the lamp went out in the women's dwelling, he crept in and found her by recognising the feel and texture of her clothes. Since that night, Igaluk mated with his older sister many times. As it was dark, Malina was never able to tell who the man was, but one night, in the middle of their copulation, she covered her hands with the soot from the oil lamps and smeared his face with it. Afterwards, she took a lamp and looked through the skylight of the men's lodge to identify the man who took her. Upon learning the fact that it was her own younger brother, Igaluk, who had been enjoying her, Malina became red and hot with shame. After confronting him about it, she ran away out the door, grabbing a torch as she went. Igaluk chased after her, likewise taking a torch, and followed her path. However, he tripped and dropped his torch, and the flame was put out, except for a faint glow. Eventually however, Igaluk caught up to his sister, and the two ran so fast that they took off into the sky and became the moon and the sun. Once every while Igaluk managed to catch up with his older sister, Malina, and enjoy a brief union with her, causing a solar eclipse.

Malina was then known for her passion, courage and beauty.

See also

Notes
  1. Dwyer, Helen; Burgan, Michael (2012-01-01). Inuit History and Culture. Gareth Stevens. p. 24. ISBN 9781433959707.
  2. PhD, Patricia Monaghan (2014-04-01). Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines. New World Library. p. 81. ISBN 9781608682188.
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