Ìyá Mọòpó: Her Three Pairs of Arms

The upper part of the monumental sculpture of Ìyá Mọòpó showing the figure's three pairs of arms as well as one of the two birds (atíálá-àtíòro) depicted as part of the representation. Ìyá Mọòpó, often called the “Great Mother” and mystic potter woman is the patroness of women in all aspects of their life - from bearing and caring for children to all their professions and trades.
Iya Moopo’s legs are extended on the ground and the folds of her traditional cloth “wrapper” are represented by delicate swirls of sculpted cement. Her face looks upward towards the divine.
This majestic sculpture and shrine is more than 14 meters high and over 60 meters long. Ìyá Mọòpó’s face looks upward towards divinity above her own. She extends three pairs of slender outstretched arms: ‘one to receive, one to throw out sacred fecundities, and one in the Ògbóni fist-over-fist symbol-gesture’. (A life with the Gods, Susanne Wenger / Gert Chesi, 1983, page 140). The six arms also gesture blessings, advice and regrets and represent the goddess’ multiple divine functions.
Ìyá Mọòpó is one of the most important shrines within the Goves.