The Harpy Creation Myth: Vulnia the Burning Mother

Restored by the Torinian Librarian, Daphne Logos.

Harpies pass down their history orally through dedicated keepers, rendering the study of their culture and traditions difficult for humans. In his work, Harpy Myths and Legends, the renowned Torinian historian Heseodorus recorded the creation story of Felarya as told by the giant harpies. Though only fragments of his text remain, we are fortunate that long-lived harpies dwelling in Torin City have preserved what was lost and filled the gaps.

The completed myth is as follows:

A harpy flew freely in an endless sky,

yet she was alone.

The ground beneath her talons was barren.

With her teeth, she tore her breasts,

and her blood, her milk, and her tears fell upon the soil.

From it sprang forth diverse forms of life.

The harpy watched over her nest.

But by and by, the world hardened about her.

The sky pressed in and grew dark.

Without the endless sky in which to spread her wings,

the harpy was brought near unto despair.

Yet her passion to be free of the suffocating shell burned so hot

that it set the world ablaze.

All was turned to ash—

even the harpy herself.

After many years, life stirred within the ashes.

A harpy emerged, young and fair.

She spread her wings and took to the air,

rising once more into the endless sky.

An illustration of Vulnia the Burning Mother creating and destroying in an endless cycle.

According to this myth, the harpy and the egg—the world—came into being together. Thus, if one were to ask a harpy, “Which came first—the harpy or the egg?” she would answer, “Yes.” Furthermore, the myth reveals that harpies hold to a cycle of destruction and rebirth; thus, their cosmology is, in its nature, apocalyptic.