Two-Face

In Native American mythology, particularly among Plains tribes like the Sioux and Omaha, "Two-Face" (or Anuk-Ite/Double Face) is a malevolent humanoid monster, often a woman, with one beautiful face and one hideous, evil face on the back of her head, symbolizing disharmony and bringing doom, death, or nightmares to those who make eye contact with the evil face, acting as a terrifying bogeyman or cannibalistic figure. These creatures embody chaos, representing a dangerous departure from tradition, and are distinct from the benevolent "Two-Spirit" people or the Dawn spirit Anpao.

Characteristics & Folklore

• Appearance: Typically appears human but has a second, evil face on the back of the head, sometimes described as an ogre or monstrous.
• Origin: In some Sioux legends, a woman who tried to seduce the Sun God was transformed into Anuk-Ite, with one beautiful and one hideous face, representing disharmony.
• Threat: Eye contact with the back face brings death or paralysis, and Two-Faces are associated with cannibalism and nightmares, terrorizing children.
• Variations: Some traditions speak of a single Two-Face, while others believe in an entire race, with some versions featuring a female monster teaching quilling to young women.
• Symbolism: Represents a dangerous duality, hidden evil, and the fear of what lies beneath the surface, contrasting with harmonious figures. 

Key Figures & Tribes

• Anuk-Ite/Anog Ite: Common names for the creature in Sioux/Lakota lore.
• Omaha/Sioux: Strong traditions of the Two-Face as a terrifying ogre or cannibalistic being. 

Not to be Confused With

• Anpao: A benevolent Lakota spirit of the dawn with two faces, representing balance between light and dark, not evil.
• Two-Spirit: A modern umbrella term for Indigenous North Americans with diverse, traditional gender and spiritual identities, unrelated to the monstrous Two-Face figure.