Stikini ‘Man-Owl’ – Sinister Vampiric Monster That Works In Disguise
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In ancient folklore of the Seminole Indians of Oklahoma in the United States, there is a vampire-like creature called a stikini ("man owl"). Likewise, terrifying Stikini legends are widespread among the Creek people.
Initially, the Stikini were believed to be evil witches who transformed themselves into undead giant owl-like monsters. Technically dead but constantly reanimated, they could spend their nights seeking human hearts to consume. Hearing the terrifying cry of a Stikini is an omen of impending death.
Many Native Americans who know the Stikini stories avoid mentioning this bizarre creature openly. Usually, only certain medicine people tell about the Stikini without putting someone at risk of turning into it.
The Appearance Of Stikini
By day, the creature appears as an ordinary human; the Stikini does terrible things at night. It vomits up all its internal organs, hangs them in a tree, or hides them elsewhere to prevent animals from eating them.
Then, it can change its appearance into a great horned owl. In this disguise, it flies out, searching for a sleeping person to prey upon.
It removes the still-beating heart from its victim by pulling it out of his mouth, and then it takes the heart back to its home. It cooks the heart in an enchanted pot and eats it in secret. The Stikini needs to consume one human heart each night while, for example, Jiangshi, a Chinese "hopping vampire," kills living creatures to absorb their 'qi' 'life force,' according to Chinese legends.
Credit: Shadowulf1 - Warriors Of Myth
Before dawn, the Stikini returns to its hidden organs and swallows them, looking like an ordinary human being.
Is There Any Protection Against Stikini?
Ancient people believed there might be a way to get rid of the creature, but it wasn't very easy.
At first, people must find their organs hidden by the Stikini while the creature is still hunting and destroy it before dawn, guaranteeing the monster's death. Sunlight is also disastrous for the Stikini, who has not turned back into a human shape.
It can be done with some specially chosen arrows decorated with owl feathers, then ritually blessed and dressed with sacred herbs. When the Stikini returns to consume its organs, one can fire upon it with the magic arrow, as this is the only time the creature is vulnerable.
Stikini's Dangerous Camouflage
The creature is a dangerous shapeshifter able to transform into any animal it wants, but it prefers to perform as an owl.
By day, it takes on the form of a human disguise; it undergoes a physical (perhaps even mental) transformation. It lives its daily life as a human, socializes within the community, and mimics human behavior, ideally without exposure.
The creature's true origin is camouflaged, and there is no way to reveal it.
The Stikini folklore is widespread and popular among Natives of America. Though the shapeshifting evil creature originates in Seminole lands, many legends and stories about Stikini have circulated over the years in swampy regions of New Jersey and Michigan.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on October 19, 2022
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesRose C. Giants, Monsters and Dragons
Alexander H. B. Native American Mythology
Bennett A. Global Legends and Lore: Vampires and Werewolves Around the World
More From Ancient Pages
-
Glass Technology Was Known In Sahara Centuries Before The Arrival Of Europeans
Ancient Technology | Jan 20, 2018 -
On This Day In History: Terrorist Attacks On World Trade Center And Pentagon – On Sep 11, 2001
News | Sep 11, 2016 -
Did Lead Poisoning Cause The Fall Of The Roman Empire?
Archaeology | Oct 24, 2017 -
Unique Sword Discovered In Mysterious Pre-Viking Tomb In Uppsala, Sweden
Archaeology | Sep 2, 2019 -
Evidence Of Ancient Lakes In The Sahara Desert Discovered
Archaeology | Nov 5, 2022 -
Sarcophagus Of King Ramses II’s Head Of Treasury Found In Saqqara, Giza
Archaeology | Sep 20, 2022 -
Underground Catacombs Of Alexandria: Ancient Time Capsule Which Remained Hidden For Almost Two Millennia
Featured Stories | Sep 20, 2016 -
New Evidence Vikings Failed To Wipe Out Communities And Anglo-Saxon Monasteries
Archaeology | Jan 30, 2023 -
America’s Ancient “Mystery Stone” Remains An Unexplained Puzzle
Artifacts | Apr 17, 2014 -
On This Day In History: First Battle Of Reading Took Place – On Jan 4, 871 AD
News | Jan 4, 2017 -
Unusual Medieval Picture Stone Found Under House In Klotzow, Germany
Archaeology | Aug 26, 2024 -
Oldest Lunar Calendar Engraved On A Pebble Dated To 10,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Aug 5, 2019 -
Beware Of The Shapeshifting Gaelic Bodach Who May Be Difficult To Trick
Christmas Traditions | Dec 20, 2024 -
University Of Warsaw Archaeologists Return To Study Large Ancient City Of Ptolemais
Archaeology | Sep 8, 2023 -
Curious Alien-Looking Slit Gongs Figures From Vanuatu Allowed Villagers To Communicate
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Sep 24, 2018 -
Legendary And Mysterious Stone Of Brutus – The London Stone Refuses To Give Up Its Secrets
Artifacts | Jan 21, 2022 -
Book Of Kells: Illuminated Medieval Manuscript From Monastery On Iona, Scotland
Artifacts | Feb 8, 2018 -
Unknown Prehistoric Henge Site Detected Near Famous Newgrange In Ireland’s East Coast
Archaeology | Jul 13, 2018 -
Nicholas Roerich’s Search For Shambhala And Wish To Fulfill The Mysterious Buddhist Prophecy
Ancient Mysteries | Nov 4, 2016 -
Unique 9,000-Year-Old Shrine With Symbols Discovered At Neolithic Ritual Site In Jordan Desert
Archaeology | Mar 7, 2022