"You can observe a lot just by watching"
Yogi Berra
Synchromysticism
"Synchromysticism: The art of realizing meaningful coincidence in the seemingly mundane with mystical or esoteric significance." - Jake Kotze
July 27, 2018
Did the Hei-tiki Originate from Egypt?
One of my New Zealand hei-tikis
On the 24th of May this year I went to see the 'Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives' exhibit at the Queensland Museum and came across something that reminded me of the New ZealandHei-tiki.
And I had just seen the movie'Whale Rider' on DVD that week, so that image was still fresh in my mind at the time.
The rationale behind the first idea is that they were often buried when their kaitiaki (guardian)died and would be later retrieved and placed somewhere special to be brought out in times of tangihanga(mourning and associated activities).
Because of the connection with Hineteiwaiwa, hei-tiki were often given to a woman by her husband's family if she was having trouble conceiving. Robley, author of A History of the Maori Tiki, suggested a similarity of some tiki to images of Buddha, which were often fashioned in green jade.
He believed they may have been a forgotten memory, in debased form, of these."
Both the Egyptian figure and the New Zealand Hei-tiki have connections to childbirth it seems, too.
Well-known link between Egyptian Bes & the tiki figure. "The ugly, but beloved little dwarf god, Bes of Southern Egypt, protector of pregnant women, mothers and children. He is shown here in typical stance, with his very pronounced "V" brow or forehead, which became the "V" forehead depression in the Tiki pendant. Generally, he would be shown with hands on hips or upper thighs and bandy legged, which became the adjoined arms and leg features on the Tiki pendant. He was often depicted as having big round "google" eyes, another attribute of the Tiki design. Or, "Most likely the Maori concept of deity Tiki didn't sprout in Maori culture but is derived from an Egyptian god (even more likely from another African country like Somali). This deity is commonly known as the Egyptian god Bes." Coupla links for these quotes:
and....both Maori & Egypytian women noted for chin tattoos, fairly rare phenomenon in the world.
1904 quote: THROUGH the kindness of the “Otago Witness,” we are enabled to reproduce some pictures showing the similarity of the tattoo marks in some women of Assouan, Upper Egypt, and the ordinary kauae or chin tattooing of Maori women. Source:http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_13_1904/Volume_13%2C_No._2%2C_June_1904/Maori_and_Egyptian_tattooing%2C_p_104/p1
Both the Egyptian figure and the New Zealand Hei-tiki have connections to childbirth it seems, too.
What the whales know?
I have my two Hei-tikis hanging either side of my computer screen now.
I could be wrong with my Egyptian theory and you can poke your tongue at it if you want to.
Just sayin'.
Well-known link between Egyptian Bes & the tiki figure.
ReplyDelete"The ugly, but beloved little dwarf god, Bes of Southern Egypt, protector of pregnant women, mothers and children. He is shown here in typical stance, with his very pronounced "V" brow or forehead, which became the "V" forehead depression in the Tiki pendant. Generally, he would be shown with hands on hips or upper thighs and bandy legged, which became the adjoined arms and leg features on the Tiki pendant. He was often depicted as having big round "google" eyes, another attribute of the Tiki design. Or,
"Most likely the Maori concept of deity Tiki didn't sprout in Maori culture but is derived from an Egyptian god (even more likely from another African country like Somali). This deity is commonly known as the Egyptian god Bes."
Coupla links for these quotes:
http://celticnz.co.nz/Bes%20&%20Thor/Bes&Taranis.htm
http://maori-jewelry.blogspot.com/2010/02/tiki-maori-version-of-egyptian-god-bes.html
and....both Maori & Egypytian women noted for chin tattoos, fairly rare phenomenon in the world.
ReplyDelete1904 quote: THROUGH the kindness of the “Otago Witness,” we are enabled to reproduce some pictures showing the similarity of the tattoo marks in some women of Assouan, Upper Egypt, and the ordinary kauae or chin tattooing of Maori women.
Source:http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document//Volume_13_1904/Volume_13%2C_No._2%2C_June_1904/Maori_and_Egyptian_tattooing%2C_p_104/p1
check out "Bowl of Light" by Hank Wesselman. The lineage is real!
ReplyDelete