The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018

1. The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents Marker

Inscription. According to Tenskwatawa, often referred to as the Shawnee Prophet, when the first Shawnee people came to this land many thousands of years ago, several warriors were lost when they were taken beneath the sea on the back of an immense turtle. Anxious to rescue these men, the people called upon their Grandfather Serpent, "the king of the serpents” and ruler of the World Below. They fasted, sang and prayed for several days and nights. One morning they awoke to find a giant creature with the body of a serpent and the “head, horns & neck of a large buck” lying dead and bleeding on the shore. Despairing now of rescuing their lost warriors, they cut the body of the creature into pieces, which they used for generations as powerful medicine.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea series list.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 1.45′ N, 83° 25.75′ W. Marker was near Peebles, Ohio, in Adams County. It could be reached from Horner Chapel Road (Ohio Route

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73) 0.9 miles west of Horner Chapel Road (Route T-116), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 521 Horner Chapel Rd, Peebles OH 45660, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Southern Ohio Hill Country.

It was also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Welcome To Serpent Mound (a few steps from this marker); Serpent Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Exploring Serpent Mound - Frederic Ward Putnam (within shouting distance of this marker); Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Village Site (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Burial Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Astronomical Alignments at Serpent Mound? (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Who Built Serpent Mound? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peebles.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Serpent In American Indian Traditions (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); What Is An Effigy Mound? (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 18, 2018

2. The Shawnee And The King Of The Serpents Marker

removed); The Village Site (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Exploring Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Welcome To Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Serpent Mound Impact Crater (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Who Built Serpent Mound? (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Astronomical Alignments At Serpent Mound (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,687 times since then and 98 times this year. Last updated on March 17, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.