Myths in the art of La Lindosa
Four Amazonian myths which may have influenced the rock art of La Lindosa
Myths and stories
Myths are vital parts of cultural memory. They can explain the world around us and how it came to be, and allow people to share a sense of their own identity and place in the world.
Several myths and stories told by indigenous Amazonians may be represented at La Lindosa.
Possible representation of language on the Demoledores Panel (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The Jiw creation story
This story about the creation of the world, told by the Jiw people, also offers an explanation for the origin of the rock art at La Lindosa.
In the beginning, there was no sun, moon or stars. Everything was in darkness. Laman, the world creator, made a big pot with a lid. Whenever he lifted the lid, light flooded out and a new day dawned.
Nothing lived on the earth, so Laman created the first bird. The bird brought seeds from the underworld, and from those seeds grew palms and fruits, and all the plants on the planet. Next Laman prayed, and all kinds of animals appeared.
Laman wanted us to remember how life began, so he decided to throw a party. In between dancing and singing, Laman made the paintings on the rocks to make sure that what he had done would never be forgotten.
View of Cerro Azul (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The Master of Animals
According to many indigenous groups of the Colombian Amazon, the tepuis are home to a powerful being known as the Master of Animals. The Tukano say that the Master of Animals (vaí mahsё) protects game animals, who live in the tepuis in their human spirit form.
This painting from El Mas Largo panel at La Lindosa, nicknamed ‘The Astronaut’ for its helmet-like head, resembles depictions of the Master of Animals in Tukano art.
Shamans visit the tepuis to negotiate with the Master of Animals so that he will release animals to become prey for human hunters, and to count and keep track of wildlife populations.
This agreement with non-human beings is a means for shamans to maintain ecological balance.
As part of this process of negotiation, shamans paint pictures of the animals they have requested from the Master of Animals onto the sides of the hills in red paint. Some of the rock art around La Lindosa may well record these meetings with the Master of Animals.
Panoramic view of the Dantas Panel (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The House of the Tapirs
Tapirs represent knowledge and wisdom in many Amazonian cultures, some of whom see tapirs as ancestors and storytellers. They have particular spiritual significance to the Nukak group, who believe they are essentially human ‘just like us’.
The Nukak believe that tapirs assume their human form in the underworld, Bak, where they keep jaguars as pets. When tapirs enter our world, Yee, through sacred natural salt licks or salados, they dress as animals and humans take care of them.
Detail of the Principal rock art panel (2021-11-15) by Pete Kelsey, SEARCHUniversity of Exeter
Forest demons
Some wild-looking figures in the rock art may represent Amazonian forest demons. The fearsome Chullachaki is said to be the size of a young boy, with one leg turned backwards and the feet of a goat, dog, deer or other animal.
People who meet Chullachaki in the forest are doomed to become ill or insane, except for the rare exceptions who are able to befriend the demon and be granted his supernatural hunting ability.
Forest demon figures like this one in the centre of this section of the Reserva panel are often painted at La Lindosa with arms raised as if to scare or attack the viewer. The strokes making up the raised arms on this figure are painted with impressive energy.
Section from the Dantas panel, may show The Tale of the Red Deer (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The Tale of the Red Deer
According to Ismael Sierra Estrada from the Resguardo el Refugio, this painting on the Dantas panel contains all the characters of a Tukano folk story, The Tale of the Red Deer.
A widow lived with her two children in the forest. She was skilled at growing vegetables and cooking, but did not know how to fish or hunt.
One day, the woman finished her gardening and went fishing. She had no luck, and set off home empty-handed.
On her way she found piles of fish on the ground. She followed the trail of fish to a man by a canoe. He said he had caught the fish, and offered them to the woman as a present.
In time, the man and woman became a couple. Each night, the man visited the woman in secret.
One night the woman’s children discovered the affair and plotted to kill the man by poisoning his drink. After he died, the grieving woman buried him in the wilderness and his corpse transformed into a termite nest.
The woman was pregnant, and soon gave birth to a red deer. When her children played with it, the deer ran away into the forest. Their mother was furious. Her children ran away too, and turned into curassow birds.
The woman prepared food to tempt her children back, but in her rage she ate it all and died.
Her body turned into a termite nest, standing next to the termite nest that was once her dead lover.
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