Native American Indians were a deeply spiritual people and the communicated their history, ideas and dreams to each generation through symbols. One such as the Horned Serpent symbol. The origin of the Horned Serpent symbol is said to have come from the ancient Mississippian culture of North America which was established in 1000AD to 1550AD and onward. They gave a great mystical value to the serpent. The Mississippians believed that they universe consisted of threeworlds all linked together and the linkage was usually portrayed by a cedar tree. The Underworld was inhabited by spirit snakes, the Upper world by spirit birds and the middle world which inhabited people was ruled by spirits like the Horned Serpent. The zigzag lines of the serpent are said to be symbolic of water. It was the guardian of life and the forces of life.
Sint Holo is an invisible, great horned serpent. Among the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw this serpent has great spiritual and cultural significance. He was the great spirit of inspiration, language and writing. For any young male who had demonstrated a degree of wisdom or intelligence beyond his peers, Sint Holo might reveal its presence to the young male. Sequoya, who is the primary inventor and developer of the Cherokee written language, must have, according to certain vague accounts, "must have seen Sint Holo, the horned reptile" in order to create the alphabet for the Cherokee. It is said that Sint Holo dwelled in a cave deep below the water. He was responsible for bringing about heavy rains and could make a noise like thunder but was not thunder. Details vary among tribes but many of the stories associate the mystical figure water, rain lighting and/or thunder. Only would he show himself to those that showed they were wiser then the others and he would then offer his wisdom to those young men.
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