The helping spirit Nartôq is “the pregnant one” or “the big-bellied one”. Iglulik Inuit shaman Anarqâq first encountered this spirit while out hunting caribou. Nartôq is a horrifying sight – its nose is on its forehead, and its lower jaw runs down into its breast.
When they first met, Nartôq charged Anarqâq threateningly, disappearing just before it reached him. Later on Nartôq reappeared and introduced itself to Anarqâq. “I was hot-headed earlier because you yourself are too quick to anger”, it told the shaman. “You need never fear me as long as you abandon your short temper”. Since then Nartôq become one of the shaman’s best helping spirits.
References
Rasmussen, K. (1929) Intellectual Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos. Glydendalske Boghandel, Nordisk Forlag, Copenhagen.
A Book of Creatures 
Can’t help but imagine that it’s screaming like the seagulls from Finding Nemo.
PS Hope you had a hella chill vacation
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know how else to draw the jaw thing :C
LikeLike
Oh I was making a silly comment,TBH I think it looks pretty good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I can’t unhear it
LikeLike
Hey, so I’ve been doing this weird art project lately that involves mythical creatures (primarily fairies and the like). But I’ve been struggling when finding information, since many of the ones I intend to present are rather obscure. The quickest source I have is the Dubois books but I can’t tell when it’s part of the real myth from stuff he added. So I just need to know about these three creatures specifically.
1. Do you have any sources on a Creature called Jouroupari?
2. Is the It a real Creature or one of Dubois’s ideas? (he gave a paragraph to Freddy Krueger in one occasion so…)
3. There’s an aboriginal creature called Mamu but I haven’t found much on that one either. Any sources about that one too?
LikeLike
“Jouroupari” is the French pronunciation of the name, you want “Jurupari” (it’s real). Mamu is apparently real too but haven’t been able to find much on it (the Dubois account may be made up).
LikeLike
So I found some information about the Mamu. It’s basic but it helps. The Juru;ari, though, I didn’t find too much about that one apart that in some versions it’s an ogre and others a god. I also think Dubois mixed the Jurupari with Curupira in his description (fire headed ogre with backwards feet)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mind sharing? I’d love to cover the mamu if it’s got some good sources! Most I got was that it’s a generic term for monster.
LikeLike
Sorry that I’m a bit late to the party. I haven’t read the book, so I don’t know if Dubois is describing the same creature I’m thinking of, but the It is apparently real, or at least it comes from an allegedly traditional ghost story. I have no idea whether it was widely believed in or just part of the story, the same way that characters from fairy tales were not thought of as real but are still folklore. I can’t remember offhand where the ghost story was from, and I can’t find it on Google since It is a generic word that comes up in every result, but the story was about a formless monster that menaced a farm every Christmas Eve. Hope that helps!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes but why the bucket? I’m just so curious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s in the original drawing so I figured it had to be important!
LikeLike
“its nose is on its forehead, and its lower jaw runs down into its breast.”
In other words, its your mother.
LikeLike
Amazing
LikeLike
Ahhh! Real Monsters!
I also understand Nartoq more than Issitôq in its helping of our protagonist in this story. Issitôq is just there,while Naroq is more of a reflection of our hero.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A lot of those helping spirits are deeply personal and I wonder sometimes how appropriate it is to include them in ABC. But then I guess if Shigeru Mizuki can do it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As a Polytheist, I’d suggest either asking this person directly (if the shaman is still alive) about whether or not his helper spirits are okay with this. Even if you don’t believe in these spirits, that guy does and probably would appreciate the courtesy. If he’s dead, try contacting his fellow shamans. Or if you ARE theologically inclined, do divination to see whether or not he is cool with this.
Might be an academically unorthodox suggestion but I’m not giving a thesis or anything so I’m just going to give it to you straight #SorryNotSorry
LikeLike