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Objects

Evenki

Ethnic groups:

Evenki

Territory:

Yenisei province

Date:

Late 19th century

Collectors-person:
Ostrovskih Petr Ye.
Material:

Wood; leather: natural leather; fur: natural (reindeer); bone: animal bone; natural glue

Number:

РЭМ 147-5/18

Annotation:

The wooden hammer is covered with reindeer skin. A plate of mammoth bone with metal anthropomorphic figures is attached to the back side. An anthropomorphic image symbolizing the guardian spirit of the Evenk shaman is carved in the handle of the hammer. The hammer was one of the first attributes received by the shaman. Its name, gis or gisun literally means “speaking, object for speaking-foretelling.” The hammer was considered a live mediator between the human world and the spirit world. It was with the hammer’s help that the shaman would obtain answers put by fellow tribesmen. Abstract by K.Yu.S.

Albums:
Sacral world of the Arctic
Rus:
Колотушка к бубну шамана. Эвенки