Ancient Spirits

In Klamath Indian tradition, many battles were fought here between the Spirit chief Llao of the below-world and Skell of the above-world. During one visit to the above-world, Llao fell in love with a chief's daughter and promised her eternal life if she would live with him below the mountains. When she refused, he threatened to destroy her people, rushed up through the opening of his mountain, and hurled fire down upon them. Skell, taking pity on the people, stood on Mount Shasta to defend them, and the two waged battle by hurling red-hot rocks as large as hills, making the earth tremble and causing fiery landslides. The people fled to the waters of Klamath Lake, and two holy men offered to sacrifice themselves by jumping into the pit of fire on top of Llao's mountain. Moved by their bravery, Skell drove Llao back underground. When the sun rose, the mountain was gone, having fallen in on Llao and left a large hole that rains filled with water, and the lake became known as Giiwaas, a most sacred place.

Oregon · United States