Spirals are everywhere Inca gods are represented by statues but also by symbols, some of which are quite obvious: Inti, the Sun, is a golden disk with rays. It is perhaps more difficult to understand why Pachamama, the Earth goddess, is figured by a spiral. Spirals were already a common symbol in Prehistoric rock art […]
Fujin is the powerful Shinto god of wind revered in Japan. He is depicted as a demonic, green-skinned man with a snarling face and wild hair, carrying a large bag of winds on his shoulders. As god of the wind, Fujin has control over storms, typhoons, and tornadoes. His fierce gusts could destroy homes and […]
A parcel of straws Flutes are one of the most ancient musical instruments in the world. They were made with any material at hand: hollow bones of small birds, clay, reeds, bamboo, straw. From early times they were the instruments of shepherds and country folk. But the humble flute was also endowed with magical powers in […]
The Aztec god Xochipilli is associated with four animals, the mischievous monkey, the hocco, the royal Eagle but most of all, the butterfly, which is fitting with his name of Flowerprince (xochi: flower; pilli: prince). We shall see that the butterfly has for the Aztecs like for other cultures many symbolic meanings and we shall […]