# Azeban

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeban
> Source revision: 1295619293
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{{Short description|Trickster in Abenaki mythology}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Refimprove|date=September 2018}}
{{notability|date=January 2018}}
}}
{{Infobox mythical creature
| name =
| AKA =
| image =
| caption = Representation of Azeban produced with the support of [Generative artificial intelligence](/source/Generative_artificial_intelligence) ([Midjourney](/source/Midjourney))
| Sub_Grouping = animal
| Folklore = [Abenaki mythology](/source/Abenaki_mythology)
| Region = Northeastern [North America](/source/North_America)
| Details = [trickster](/source/trickster)
}}
'''Azeban''' (also spelled '''Azban''', '''Asban''' or '''Azaban'''), or "the Raccoon," is a lower-level [trickster](/source/trickster) spirit in [Abenaki mythology](/source/Abenaki_mythology).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fee|first1=Christopher R.|last2=Webb|first2= Jeffrey B.|title=American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXnEDAAAQBAJ&q=azeban+the+trickster+raccoon&pg=PA61|date=2016-08-29|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781610695688|pages=61–62}}</ref><ref name=Land>{{cite book|author=Elaine Landau|title=The Abenaki|page=9|year=1996|ISBN=0-531-20227-5|publisher=Franklin Watts}}</ref> The traditional homeland of the Abenaki is Wobanakik (''Place of the Dawn''), what is now called northern [New England](/source/New_England), southern [Quebec](/source/Quebec), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Azeban is a [raccoon](/source/raccoon), the Abenaki trickster figure. Pronounced ah-zuh-bahn. Azeban does many foolish and/or mischievous things in Abenaki folktales, but unlike animal tricksters in some other tribes, is not dangerous or malevolent.

Azeban deceives animals and other beings for food or other services.

There is an Abenaki story where a woman names her six dogs after their characteristics.  She named one of the dogs Azeban.  This woman  [Cedar Girl](/source/Cedar_Girl) of the Abenaki [Dawn Land People] naming her dog "Azeban" has caused some confusion, causing  people to assume the Abenaki trickster figure is a dog, not realizing she called the dog Azeban because he has the characteristics of the raccoon, the actual Abenaki Trickster figure.  In the story the dog Azeban is one of a litter of six dogs born to [Awasosqua](/source/Awasosqua) (''Bear Woman''). The others are [Awasosis](/source/Awasosis) (''Little Bear''), [Kwaniwibid](/source/Kwaniwibid) (''Long Tooth''), [Mikwe](/source/Mikwe) (''Squirrel''), [Moosis](/source/Moosis) (''Little Moose'') and [Soksemo](/source/Soksemo) (''Good Nose'').  All the spirits in Awasosqua's broods are [dog](/source/dog)s, and are named after their characteristics.

In another story, Azeban sees a waterfall and, appreciating its noise, thinks he can make an even louder sound.  He shouts until he loses his balance and falls in.<ref name=Land />

<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.native-languages.org/azeban.htm|title=Azeban, the Trickster Raccoon (Azban, Asban, Espun)}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Abenaki legendary creatures
Category:Animal gods
Category:Anthropomorphic raccoons
Category:Mythological dogs
Category:Trickster gods

{{NorthAm-myth-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Azeban](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeban) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeban?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.