Iktomi is a spider-god from Native American mythology.
Significance in series[]
"The Beguiling Man"[]
Mama-ji enters the diner and tells the Jinn that Wednesday wants him to find Old Iktomi at the "Corn Palace" to get Wednesday's spear, Gungnir.
"Muninn"[]
Jinn and Salim travel down the highway on Jinn's sidecar motorcycle. They arrive at a strip club named the "Porn Palace," however, the broken P in the sign makes it look like "Corn Palace." The Jinn explains how roadside attractions are all about making money. They enter the club as Jinn warns Salim about looking directly into Iktomi's eyes. He is a trickster spider and shape-shifter like Mr. Nancy. Gnaskinyan greets Jinn and tells him that Iktomi will grant Wednesday's request in return for a favor.
Iktomi opens up a small metal case and removes a seed. He deposits the seed in a glass of water and it quickly sprouts. Gnaskinyan leads Jinn and Salim to into another area of the club that has been converted into a growroom and is where Iktomi sit in a wheelchair. Salim avoids eye contact with Iktomi while the Jinn reminds Iktomi that his tricks do not work on him. Iktomi gestures to Gnaskinyan who retrieves a triangular guitar cases and passes it to Salim. Iktomi warns the Jinn that since Gungnir is an instrument of death, Thoth, the God of Death, might not allow it. Iktomi removes the seedling from the glass of water and places it in a cloth handkerchief before passing it to Jinn to also give to Wednesday. The Jinn and Salim leave the strip club and once again set off on their motorcycle.
Trivia[]
- When asked about why Iktomi, as a Native American deity, was played a non-Native actor, Neil Gaiman explained he had no part in this casting and felt sorry upon discovering it, because one of the rules he had established for the makers of the television series was "Always cast an actor of the correct race". He added that afterward he talked with season three's showrunner, Chic Eglee, to make sure such a thing would not happen again. [1]
- As mentioned in "The Beguiling Man" and referred to in "Muninn," the Corn Palace is a real location in Mitchell, South Dakota, however, it is not the location the Jinn ends up going to meet Iktomi.