Motif
Animal bones or skulls as protective hunting and sea charms
animal_bones_or_skulls_as_protective_hunting_and_sea_charms
A motif of the Sacred Law and Social Order family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
andamanese
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The Andaman Islanders: A Study in Social Anthropology CHAPTER IV / MYTHS AND LEGENDS / CHAPTER V / THE INTERPRETATION OF ANDAMANESE CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS: CEREMONIAL; lines 10191-10275 confidence: medium
The author says the skulls are more than trophies, serve as visible proofs of past ability to overcome hostile powers, and are regarded as ensuring future hunting success and protection; turtle skulls under canoe platforms are intended to protect at sea and help obtain a catch.
The preserved skulls are interpreted as ensuring hunting success, protecting hunters, protecting canoe occupants from the sea, and bringing luck or protection through animal bones.
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