Marindi, in Australian Aboriginal mythology, was a legendary dog that fought with Adno-artina. His blood fell on rocks and dyed them red. The source of the ochre is a quarry at Pukardu Hill at a site dual-named by the Government of South Australia as "Parachilna Ochre Mine"/"Vukartu Ithapi" and which is located about 19 kilometres (12 mi) south-east of Parachilna in the locality of Flinders Ranges (though some sources say her blood had stained Uluru in the Northern Territory of Australia).
The Battle and the Bloodshed[]
One day, Marindi was passing by the dry bed of a watercourse when he heard a voice saying “Come out and fight.” It was Adno-artina, the gecko lizard, who offered the challenge. Marindi agreed to the fight, but the lizard, seeing Marindi’s huge teeth, decided the battle should be put off until the evening when she would be able to see better. The lizard tied a string around the root of her tail to prevent courage from leaving her body. As they fought, Adno-artina seized Marindi by the throat. The dog’s blood poured out and dyed all of the rocks in the creek red. To this day red ochre used extensively for decorative purposes, is obtained from the spot where the battle took place[1].
Trivia[]
- Some sources say the battle took place in a quarry at Pukardu Hill; others say it took place at Uluru.