Shakuru and Pah: The Sun and Moon
Shakuru (the Sun) and Pah (the Moon) were the last of all gods placed in the heavens by Tirawa. They are of relatively minor standing in Skidi Pawnee mythology compared to the star gods. The Sun and Moon produced a son, a boy who was placed on Earth to be the ancestor of the Pawnee people. The Sun is associated with warmth, light, and the daily cycle. The Moon governs the night and is associated with women's cycles. In Pawnee earth lodge construction, the door faces east to welcome the rising sun, and the smoke hole is aligned to observe the moon and stars.