Sedna the Goddess Who Rules the Spirits of the Sea

Sedna the Goddess Who Rules the Spirits of the Sea

Sedna is the Great Goddess of the deep sea and a central figure in the animistic and shamanistic belief systems of the Inuit people of the Arctic. She is believed to control seals whales and all marine life should humans anger her they face dire consequences. The Inuit an indigenous people of the Arctic have long revered her as they rely on hunting and seafaring utilizing dog sleds and kayaks for their survival.

Their way of life centers on hunting animals such as seals whales and polar bears using their skins and meat for clothing food and shelter against the freezing cold. They also construct temporary dwellings out of ice. In contrast the region of Northeast Africa characterized by desert landscapes and a hot arid climate holds a different significance regarding the keys to life and abundance. 

The "Mother of the Sea" sculpture is situated along the coast or in the water near the historic Kolonihavnen district; it was designed and carved by the Greenlandic artist Aka Høegh.

According to legend Sedna was once a beautiful young woman who refused all suitors. Eventually she married a mysterious man only to discover that he was actually a "Spirit Bird" in disguise who took her to a remote isolated island. 

The myth recounts a dramatic event where the Spirit Bird in a fit of rage flapped his wings to conjure a massive storm. Legend has it that after surviving a leap from a ship the fingers of the goddess Sed transformed into various sea creatures ranging from seals to whales eventually giving rise to the goddess Sedna herself who holds the power to determine the fate of hunters and decide whether or not they may successfully catch marine animals.