The Devil's Run - A Nolichucky River Tale

Hi folks! I am bringing you a legend, local to me, that is creepy and intriguing. It is about The Devil's Run, a purportedly haunted location on the Nolichucky River, located in TN. More can be found about the legend here. 

 Photo found at Outpost Usa.

The river, seen above, is a favorite for whitewater rafting and canoeing. It is a popular place, and well known to locals. There are parts of the river that are beautifully scenic, and other parts that invoke a spooky feeling. It's no wonder that a few tales are told in accordance with the area. I had heard this tale when I was younger, and when I came across it again, my mind began to swirl with ideas. Quickly I penned the following, which is an embellishment on the original. Again, this is not the story itself, but one of the versions I saw in my head. I hope you enjoy it!

*I have removed the story due to it being accepted for publication. As soon as more details emerge on where the story can be found, I will post them here. Thank you for your understanding and support!

U

U –UNICORN, UNDINE

A unicorn is a creature of legend, which resembles a white horse with a spiraling horn coming from its forehead. Originating in Greece, it is popularly connected to the Renaissance period where it was thought to be a wild creature that lived in the woods, symbolizing purity and grace, and only able to be captured by a virgin. The horn was typically thought to heal the sick and make poisoned water drinkable.

 

The belief in unicorns was real, and they are therefore not found in Greek mythology. They were believed to have lived in India. One report from an Alexandian merchant in the 6^th century who had traveled to India, described a set of brass unicorn figures that were in the palace of the King of Ethiopia. He also stated that the animals’ power derived from its horn.

One allegory shows a unicorn trapped by a maiden that represented the Virgin Mary, standing for the Incarnation. When the unicorn saw her, it put its head in her lap and fell asleep. This could be found in religious art. Some religious writers saw the unicorns’ death as the Passion of Christ. While the myths spoke of a creature with one horn that was only tamed by a virgin, they were translated into an allegory for the relationship between Christ and the Virgin Mary.

The narwhal is a whale with a large tusk that extends from its upper left jaw. It is resident to the Arctic. Ancient Norwegians thought the unicorn horn stemmed from the narwhal’s tusk.

In order to trap a unicorn, a virgin could be used. There were many tapestry hangings with this theme.

Unicorns became popular in heraldry from the 15^th century where they were depicted with goat’s cloven hooves and beards, lion’s tails, and the usual horn. It is commonly known from the royal coats of arms of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

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The Undine, also known as the Undina or Ondine, is a mythological water nymph. Classified as an elemental, they are also seen in European folklore as a creature like a fairy. They are able to gain a soul by marry a human and giving birth to his child.

Found in forest pools and waterfalls, with beautiful voices, they are common in romantic and tragic literature.

The above information and photos were found at Wikipedia.

Q

Q –QUANLIER, QUETZALCOATL

The quanlier is a Cherokee lengend. The creature has the head of a wolf, torso of a man, arms of a dog, and legs of a jackal. It’s diet consists of humans and small animals. There are not many of them, and it’s a close relation to the werewolf. Some differences are it is not able to become human, and will not change into human form when killed. It runs very fast, and at speeds of up to 300 mph.

The above information was found at the Mythical Creatures Guide.

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The Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity. It appears as a feathered serpent.  Symbolic of fertility and internal political structures, it was also believed to be part of a triad of agricultural deities including: Tialoc, god of rain, lightning and thunder, and the goddess of the cave symbolizing motherhood, reproduction, and life, leaving Quetzalcoatl as being the feathered serpent, the god of vegetational renewal. It was also connected to Venus because of its importance as a mark of the beginning of the rainy season. 

The above information and picture are from Wikipedia.

O

O –OGRE, ORACLE

Ogre’s are found in mythology, folklore, and fiction, and are depicted as huge, hideous beasts. They are said to feed on humans. Their bodies are strong, with large heads, lots of hair, usually a beard, and large appetites. They are closely related to trolls. 

The words itself could possibly be from the two mythical giants, Gog and Magog.

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Classically, an oracle referred to someone or something that was wise or a prophet. Also has to do with predictions, precognition, and is considered a form of divination.

An oracle was considered to be a portal that the gods used to speak directly to man. 

Only the Oracle at Delphi was a female, the rest were males. Her name was Pythia, and she was a priestess at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. She was known for her prophecies inspired by Apollo.

Pythia, derived from Pytho, was the original name of Delphi. It was thought that she delivered the messages in a frenzy that was caused by vapors rising from a chasm in the rock. The gibberish she spoke was then translated and reshaped to form the prophecies that are found in Greek literature.

Recently scholars have argued the above theory stating that the ancient sources tell of Pythia speaking intelligibly and giving the prophecies in her own voice. Further, recent geological investigations have explained that gas emissions from a chasm could have been the cause.

Not much is known about how the priestess was chosen to be the oracle. Working as a Pythia was a high society standing, and a respectable career. At the height of the oracle’s popularity, there may have been as many as 3 women giving prophecies. The oracle would give prophecies only in the nine warmest months of each year. Fasting was used to prepare them, and on the seventh day of each month she would bathe in the Castalian Spring and drink the waters of the Kassotis, where a naiad with magical powers was supposed to live.  Afterward, she would descend and mount her tripod seat, while holding laurel leaves and a dish of Kassotis water to peer into. The omphalos was nearby and was flanked by two solid gold eagles that represented the authority of Zeus. People desiring to hear a prophecy would carry laurel branches for Apollo, bring an animal sacrifice, and a monetary fee.

The above information and pictures were found at Wikipedia.