A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing there conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.
Clifford Geertz’s definition is a uniquely realistic handle on the world. He looks at the “system of symbols” as ultimately what a religion is. Moods (feelings) and motivations (actions) are what drive an individual to see their beliefs as fact.
As R. Clark Mallam explains, effigy mound ceremonialism represents ancient “ideology from the earth.” He also believes the mounds to be replicating the three natural classes – air, earth, and water. This was the Native American’s way of ritually maintaining balance and harmony with the natural world with the perspective of ceremonialism to renew the world. As examined below, these groups are extraordinarily symbolic.
The effigy shape depended on the area it was being constructed in. For instance, The Lowerworld: earth, contained mostly buffalo and bear shaped effigies. “Long tailed animals,” such a panthers, turtles, and lizards, represented the Lowerworld: water. Almost all of these mounds are found near water, particularly springs, because sources of water symbolized rebirth and renewal. Bird forms are found in the sky or Upperworld. They were made on high places such as cliffs, bluffs, and ridges (which is self explanatory as to why). This symbol makes sense because the Native American’s attachment to animals was very strong due to dependence on them. Human effigies were also created. Many are united with some type of animal part such as buffalo horns on its head, wings in place of arms, or a birds head in place of the humans (a.k.a “bird man”). This connection identifies how close Native American wanted to be with animals. In these mounds, they combined these two mammals to symbolize this desire.
Effigies on occasion also contained burial sites. These burials were characteristically placed in either the head or the heart or the depicted mound representing the link between that particular effigy form and the deceased. The Native Americans focused strongly on reinforcement and renewal. They believed in some sort of afterlife and thus engaged in ceremonies for the deceased. Actual burials were not carried out until symbolic occasion came about so the body at times had two burials to hold the body until the true symbolic burial could be brought about. Building these mounds reflected the embellishment of rituals surrounding death and the desire to create both visual and symbolic ties among human beings, the land, and the supernatural world.
Clifford Geertz’s definition is a uniquely realistic handle on the world. He looks at the “system of symbols” as ultimately what a religion is. Moods (feelings) and motivations (actions) are what drive an individual to see their beliefs as fact.
As R. Clark Mallam explains, effigy mound ceremonialism represents ancient “ideology from the earth.” He also believes the mounds to be replicating the three natural classes – air, earth, and water. This was the Native American’s way of ritually maintaining balance and harmony with the natural world with the perspective of ceremonialism to renew the world. As examined below, these groups are extraordinarily symbolic.
The effigy shape depended on the area it was being constructed in. For instance, The Lowerworld: earth, contained mostly buffalo and bear shaped effigies. “Long tailed animals,” such a panthers, turtles, and lizards, represented the Lowerworld: water. Almost all of these mounds are found near water, particularly springs, because sources of water symbolized rebirth and renewal. Bird forms are found in the sky or Upperworld. They were made on high places such as cliffs, bluffs, and ridges (which is self explanatory as to why). This symbol makes sense because the Native American’s attachment to animals was very strong due to dependence on them. Human effigies were also created. Many are united with some type of animal part such as buffalo horns on its head, wings in place of arms, or a birds head in place of the humans (a.k.a “bird man”). This connection identifies how close Native American wanted to be with animals. In these mounds, they combined these two mammals to symbolize this desire.
Effigies on occasion also contained burial sites. These burials were characteristically placed in either the head or the heart or the depicted mound representing the link between that particular effigy form and the deceased. The Native Americans focused strongly on reinforcement and renewal. They believed in some sort of afterlife and thus engaged in ceremonies for the deceased. Actual burials were not carried out until symbolic occasion came about so the body at times had two burials to hold the body until the true symbolic burial could be brought about. Building these mounds reflected the embellishment of rituals surrounding death and the desire to create both visual and symbolic ties among human beings, the land, and the supernatural world.
No comments:
Post a Comment