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Native American Legends: Uktena
Name: Uktena
Tribal affiliation: Cherokee
Alternate spellings: Uk'tena, Unktena, Ukatena, Uktin, Uhktena
Pronunciation: ook-tay-nah
Also known as: Antlered Serpent
Type: Lake monster,
serpent
Related figures in other tribes: Sint Holo (Choctaw),
Unktehila (Sioux),
Big Water Snake (Blackfoot),
Apotamkin (Passamaquoddy)
Uktena is a dragon-like horned serpent of Cherokee legend. The first Uktena was said to be transformed from a
human man in a failed assassination attempt on the sun. Most other Uktena tales have to do with Cherokee heroes
slaying one. They are malevolent and deadly monsters.
Uktena Stories
Uktena:
Cherokee myth about the origin and powers of the Uktena serpent.
The Snake Boy:
Cherokee legend about a boy who became an Uktena after his family rejected him.
The Tlanuhwa and The Uhktena:
Cherokee legends about the Tlanuwa and Uktena monsters.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The First Fire:
Anthology of stories from the Kickapoo, Cherokee, Kiowa, and Tigua tribes.
Southeastern Native American Legends:
Book comparing the traditional stories of the Cherokee and other Southeast tribes.
Sponsored Links
Additional Resources
Cherokee mythology
Cherokee language lessons
Cherokee names
Kentucky tribes
Southeastern Indian tribes
Cherokee words
Iroquoian language group
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