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5. Owners and guardians A separate group of statues we shall deal with in this chapter do not represent 'first ancestors' in the true sense, but creatures closely connected to them. Here we are concerned with 'distant ancestors' who can be regarded as relatives of the founding ancestors, and with members of society who acted as 'helpers' to the founders. Representatives of both categories were present on the islands in the form of statues. Distant relatives Distant ancestors who were related to the founding ancestors could be depicted in various ways. If they were linked to the founding mother, then fertility was usually the subject of the design. If they were members of the family of the founding father, then the depiction often radiated power and greatness - although this was not always discernible to westerners. In general the founding mother was strongly associated with the earth - as the source of all fertility - and accordingly portrayed as someone who had risen from the island soil, as if she were a plant. In various creation myths, for example, her body is covered in leaves - in this connection the luli from Lakor are good examples. In the eyes of the islanders the founding mother together with her relatives belongs to a category of creatures who inhabited the islands before human beings and who are the real 'owners of the earth'. When setting out a new garden these owners are usually asked permission for the use of the land and offerings are made to ensure a good harvest. On many islands special offerings stones, located near the gardens and symbolizing the earth and their owners, were used for this purpose. Sometimes the 'owners of the earth' were present in the form of stone statues. An intriguing Tanimbar figure (RMV 1971-347), found near the gardens on Yamdena, probably represents this category. In many island cultures distant relatives - on the side of the founding father - were also called upon to protect crops from thieves. Animal figures, which represented these relatives (and the powers ascribed to them) were placed beside the fields. Apart from these, forked branches or parts of tree trunks were used and the statue was given a roughly carved face. The message was clear to those who understood - the ancestor would severely punish the thief.
Helpers On almost all the islands 'helpers' of the founding ancestors were also present in the form of statues. Often they were the guardians of the village; usually one of their tasks was to act as leader in time of war. In many villages this 'helper' was regarded as an 'extension' of the founding father. He acted in his name and the deadly powers of the founding father were visible in his image. In the eastern as well as the western islands the statue of the guardian was often erected at the entrance to the village, sometimes together with a statue of his wife. | |
