The Legend of the Rock Eagle

Long ago, in another time, a Mvskoke Chief prayed to Hisagita-imisi, preserver of breath, that he would be blessed with a son. His wife was barren. Though they had lived together many moons, their union had not produced any children. The Chief wanted an heir.

Finally, his petitions were answered. A beautiful baby boy was born to Chief Running Deer and his wife, Morning Dove. They named him Fayv eco (Hunting Deer). He was a joy to behold. At birth he had thick, black hair and large, wise dark brown eyes . He seldom cried and was a favorite among all the women of the camp.

Little Deer, as he became known, quickly grew. He was fierce and fearless. He climbed and ran and sat at the feet of his father to learn the ways of his people. He was patient and kind, qualities that are not always found in three-year-old boys. He owned his father’s heart. He was a model child.

Little Deer loved to play at the top of a bluff overlooking the river. He would sit there for hours observing the water below and the clouds above. He watched the eagles flying overhead, in their search for food to feed their young. Often, he pretended to be one of them. He spread his arms wide and made screeching sounds as he swooped and glided. Then, he would laugh! His laughter was infectious. His father listened as he played above the camp.

Then, one day, the child noticed the giant eagle swooping closer, and closer to his favorite play spot. The bird came so close that his talons were only inches from him. After several passes, the eagle snagged its prey. That prey was Little Deer. Hooked claws tore at his flesh. The child screamed in terror.

Chief Running Deer heard his cries and looked up in time to see the great eagle carrying Little Deer away. The Chief was devastated. His tears ran like the Etowah River that flowed nearby. His only son was gone.

A search party was formed to look for the boy and to slay the bird that had carried him away. They returned to a grieving family only meager remains. But, they had found and slain the great eagle. Its carcass was wrapped in skins. Mourning lasted for a full moon.

When the period of bereavement ended, the Chief decided to build a memorial to his son, Little Hunting Deer. He remembered how much the child had brought happiness to all who met him. He also remembered the pleasure that his son had experienced at the top of the bluff playing his “eagle” games.

His people searched far and wide for pieces of white, milky quartz to build the monument. When they had gathered tons of the crystalline rock in all sizes and shapes from boulders to baseballs, they began to form the mound that would form the base for the construction. Chief Running Deer fashioned this mound in the shape of the Great Eagle that had stolen his son and taken his life. When completed it measured 102 feet from head to tail and 120 feet from wingtip to wingtip. It was an engineering marvel in its day! The remains of his beloved son and the great eagle were placed beneath the rock.

Little Deer would be remembered for many generations and venerated by all who loved him. The Rock Eagle would stand as long as the bluffs above the Etowah. Though many days have dawned in Central Georgia since Little Deer last played on the bluff above the river, if you listen closely, you can hear his childish laughter echoing through the forest.

(This story is based very loosely on the Legend of Rock Eagle. Rock Eagle is located near Eatonton, Georgia. It is estimated to date back to approx. 3000 B.C., and its origin is unknown. None of the characters existed, it is all just a figment of an overly active imagination.)