One of the highlights of Lavan Martineau's original 1973 work is a
detailed interpretation of one of the most sacred petroglyph panels known
to the Hopi tribe. It is known as the Hopi Prophecy Stone or Hopi Prophecy
Rock, shown in Figure below. The Hopi themselves call it the "Hopi Life
Plan." We will include a portion of LaVan's interpretation of this
important panel of rock writings.
Symbol a represents the Creator pointing down close to the
ground from where the Hopi claim to have come. The short vertical lines
near the Creator's hand b represent the Hopi people. The Creator
is holding in his left hand "the life plan" or "trail" c upon
which the Hopi are to embark. Near this hand is a circle d which
represents "holding" of the entire continent in trust for the Creator,
as he had instructed. (Since this photograph was taken, viewers of this
panel have added a bow to the right hand of the Creator which was not
apparent when Martineau surveyed the carving.)
Point e on the trail or life plan represents a time when it
was predicted by the Creator that the Hopi would digress from the true
path given to them and pursue another way. The square f is said
to represent Oraibi, and the line or path g coming down from the
square represents the false path of the wicked Oraibi . . .
The figures h standing upon the false path represent the
wicked themselves. Older Hopi claim that heads have recently been added
to these symbols, for they remember a time when no heads existed on
these figures. The absence of heads would represent the punishment or
death that the wicked must undergo as a result of following the false
path.
The two zigzag lines I stemming from the false path represent the
careless and different paths to permanent destruction pursued by the
wicked. . . .
Symbol k is the true path of everlasting life, symbol l,
which is shown at four points along this true path. The incorporation of
the symbol old age (a cane) with life (a branching corn leaf) represents
everlasting life. . . . The Hopi say that they are gourds which are
shaken, thus representing three great wars or shakings that will
transpire before the everlasting life is reached. The last circle
represents the "final war" of purification in which all evil will be
destroyed.
At point n on this panel the false path connects with an
everlasting life symbol, showing that some may return to the true path
and to everlasting life. The two zigzag lines which extend beyond this
point of possible return to the path of everlasting life thus truly
indicate permanent destruction, since the wicked have gone beyond this
point of no return. Symbol o, at the end of the path is the great
spirit holding an everlasting life symbol in his hand. He is shown
waiting here at the end of the trail just as he was shown at the
beginning of it. For this reason he is called the first and the last.
