Page 622 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

5°4
CEREMONIAL STAFF

Tairona
gray stone
7
7
55.7 X 7.4 (21 /8 X 2 /8)
Museo del Oro, Banco de la Republica, Bogota
According to the mythology of the present-day
Kogui, before the sun appeared, the universe was
made of stone. Stone staffs, hatchets, and beads
were consequently used to protect man in the
rituals in which he returned to that mythical past.
A.M.F.

505-506
Two PECTORALS These two pectorals represent Serankua, the
humanized image of father sun (see Reichel-
Tairona Dolmatoff 1988). According to the mythology of
the present-day Kogui, "The sun is a man with
505: hammered gold a golden mask. The mask emits rays beneficial
2
diameter 14 (5 /2J to planting and growth. The sun moves in the
506: bone sky, two mamas (shamans) carry it on their
2
10.1 x 11.4 (4 x /2J shoulders/' A.M.F.
4
Museo del Oro, Banco de la Republica, Bogota

THE AMERICAS 621