Mask of Black God: The Pleiades in Navajo Cosmology | NSTA

Mask of Black God: The Pleiades in Navajo Cosmology

Journal of College Science Teaching -- October 2005

One Navajo legend attributes the creation of the primary stars and constellations to Black God. Today, a famous star cluster—the Pleiades—often appears on the traditional mask worn by chanters impersonating Black God during special ceremonies. In this case study, students learn about the Pleiades in Navajo cosmology while honing their observational and star map skills.

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