KATSINA ALOSAKA
LEND KACHINA - DIVINITY OF THE
Hopi TWO-HORN SOCIETY, Arizona
Years 1900-1910
H. 35 cm
This Kachina is the rare representation of a supreme being or deity of the Kachina pantheon, the God of Germination.
This two-horned Kachina is associated with rain.
The symbols on the cheeks and at the base of the two horns are rain clouds. The long black hair at the back of the mask symbolizes the curtains of heavy rain that this Kachina spirit is supposed to bring to irrigate the fields.
In the Hopi pantheon, Alosaka and Muyingwa are two brothers, deities of the Two-Horned gods / priests society. They live in the Underworld and they are the ones who make the seeds sown by the Hopi germinate.
The dances of the Alosaka spirits take place during the Powamuya (Bean Ceremony).
This ceremony is described by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology at Harvard University in the exhibition Rainmakers From the Gods - The Origins of the Katsinam: At the Powamuya ceremony in February, the Kachina spirits arrive in force to help the Hopi prepare for the planting season and to introduce the children to the secrets of the Katsinam Society, also accompanying them in their development. The most important ceremony is a series of rituals that promote fertility, germination and seed growth. On this occasion, children between the ages of six and ten are also initiated into the Powamuya Society. The children will then be allowed to participate in Kachina dances.
At the heart of the Powamuya ceremony is the planting of beans. Inside the kiva (underground ceremonial chamber), men under the supervision of the elders plant fifty to one hundred beans in a bucket filled with soil. A fire is maintained day and night to help the beans grow. Planting and monitoring the start of bean growth inside the kiva, which is kept at a good temperature, is considered a good omen for the success of the next harvest.
On the sixteenth day, Kachina da
We use cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience, perform site traffic analysis, and deliver content and advertisements most relevant to your interests.
Cookie management:
By allowing these cookies, you agree to the deposit, reading and use of tracking technologies necessary for their proper functioning. Read more about our privacy policy.