campfire tales - the proto-story

I originally planned to to tell a tale I wrote back in secondary school and subsequently used to tell the boy when he was very young. Alas, I cannot find the original and want to do it better justice than my memory can currently serve. 

So, instead, I will tell a story I have told to Scouts at campfires and which I largely gleaned from a weighty tome entitled: The Horse, the Wheel, and Language, by David W. Anthony and modified. It is an ancient narrative of creation. There are many versions of this mythical tale and it exists in many cultures and religions. Most names come from Proto-Indo-European, but others come from Norse mythology and even Latvian mythology.  Some may dispute my names and details, but it is just my version and interpretation and it has never been told by me in the same manner twice. It can be altered to suit a particular theme or environment and it keeps the youths' attention while being told.

As it is a story about creation and very ancient, it is like the mother of all campfire stories. Hence the name: The Proto-Story.

I also include some brief comments on name and word meaning and alternate terms or phrases. This version of the story is rather dry, but it easily livens up in the telling around a fire and more so by adding colourful detail about the characters or events. It can even be supported with some play acting.


The Proto-Story

At the beginning of time there were two brothers, twins.

One was named Manu (man) and the other Yemo (twin) [or Remus].

They travelled the cosmos accompanied by Audumbla the Primordial [or Great] Cow.

Eventually, Manu and Yemo decided to create the world. [Our world.]

To do this, Manu used [or sacrificed] Audumbla the Cow.

Manu also sought help from the sky gods: Dyeus Pater the Sky Father, Perkunos the Storm Bringer, and Dieva Deli the Horse Twins.

After the world was created, Manu then made the wind, sun, moon, sea, earth, fire, and all the different animals and peoples. Except the cattle. Back then, cattle came from the sky gods.

After the world was completed, Manu became the first priest [or leader] and Yemo the first farmer [or rancher] when the sky gods gave Yemo some cattle.

Later, the sky gods also gave cattle to a third man, Trito (third).

Trito's cattle were treacherously stolen by a three-headed, six-eyed serpent [or dragon] named Negwihi (negative) the Deceitful [or the Negative]. 

Trito begged Perkunos the Storm Bringer to help him get his cattle back.

Trito and Perkunos went to Negwihi's cave high up in the mountains and battled him for a long time before finally destroying Negwihi the Deceitful, making Trito the first warrior.

They brought the cattle back and gave them to Yemo to take care of so Trito could protect their people.

So the cattle were safe and the people flourished and they continued to have great adventures. 


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