River Mother (Cherokee)

nature-spirit · United States · North America

The Cherokee 'River Mother' matches the Siren of the French Broad River, a water spirit of Cherokee Tennessee tradition first published by William Gilmore Simms in 1845 as 'The Syren of Tselica'. She lures travelers to a mountain stream and drags them underwater. Her story warns of seductive deception rather than the protective, benevolent character the record claims.

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