Piasa: The Dragon of the River

The Bird That Devours Men

The Piasa is a legendary creature of the Illiniwek people. It is unique because it was documented by early French explorers. In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette saw a massive painting of the beast on the limestone bluffs of the Mississippi River (near Alton, Illinois). He described it as a monster as large as a calf, with horns like a deer, red eyes, a beard like a tiger, a face like a man, and a body covered with scales. It ended with a long tail that wound around its body.

The Maneater

Originally, the Piasa hunted animals. But after scavenging corpses from a battlefield, it acquired a taste for human flesh. It became a terror of the river valley. It would swoop down from the cliffs, snatch a warrior in its talons, and carry him back to its cave to be devoured. Its scales were impenetrable to arrows, making it invincible.

The Sacrifice of Ouatoga

The beast was defeated by Chief Ouatoga. After fasting and praying to the Great Spirit, he received a vision revealing the creature's weakness: the soft underbelly beneath its wings. Ouatoga used himself as bait. He stood on a high rock, unarmed, chanting his death song. When the Piasa dove to attack him, twenty concealed warriors fired poisoned arrows into its exposed underside. The beast screamed and fell into the river, never to be seen again.

The Lost Mural

The original petroglyph seen by Marquette was a warning sign. For centuries, Native Americans would shoot arrows or guns at the cliff as they passed. The original image was destroyed by quarrying in the 19th century, but recreations still exist on the bluffs today.

The Final Warning

The painting on the cliff may have faded, but the shadow it cast remains. The Piasa is a reminder that the sky is not merely a playground for birds; it is a hunting ground for dragons. When you walk the river bluffs, and a cloud passes over the sun, check the silhouette, and keep your eyes up.