océh hiwéw

lit. powerful snake. This is a loan translation, or calque, shared in the Southeast, probably reflecting the rattlesnake’s Mississippian cultural association with sacredness, kingship, and power: cf., Rattlesnake imagery is common in Southeastern art and iconography, especially during the Mississippian Culture period (ca. 800-1700 CE) due to its apparent association with rulership and nobility. -ed. MTL. sęte holo, sacred/holy snake; Bi. adêêsxi(di), chief/sacred snake; Ch. sįthollo, sacred snake; Nat. úla tchuhna, chief snake. -ed.