Malina

For other uses, see Malina (disambiguation).

Malina is a solar deity in Inuit mythology. She is found most commonly in the legends of Greenland that link her closely with the lunar deity Anningan, her brother. Malina is constantly fleeing from Anningan as the result of strife between the two (legends vary as to the cause). Their constant chase is the traditional explanation for the movement of the sun and moon through the sky.

Story

According to Inuit mythology, Malina and her brother Anningan or Aningaaq lived together in a village. They were very close when young, but came to live apart as they grew older, in the lodges for women and for men. Malina was asleep and one night, someone raped her. She had no idea who it was. The next night, exactly the same thing happened again. Determined, Malina waited for the same person the next night. When he came to attack her, she turned on the fire torch and smudged ashes in the man's eyes. She was surprised to find that it was her brother, he then chased her to apologize. He could tell where she went by the blood left. She ran so far away that she became the sun. Her brother chased after her and became the moon they are still chasing each other today.

Malina was then known for her passion, courage and beauty.

External links

• Malina and Anningan
• the Sun and The Moon: An Inuit Sky Tale
• When Moon Chases Sun