Corn Woman and the Origin of Corn (Natchez)
The Natchez legend of Corn Woman (also known as Corn-Woman's Son) tells how agriculture came to the people. According to the story, Corn Woman gave birth to a son and from her body came the first corn. In one version, corn poured from her thigh when she scratched it. In another, she sacrificed herself so that corn would grow from her burial place. Her son became the first Great Sun, the divine ruler of the Natchez. The story establishes the connection between female fertility, sacrifice, and agricultural abundance. Corn was the staple crop of the Natchez, and its cultivation was surrounded by