11Story

05 September 2009

Religion and ritual

Sharing Cultural Memory

Contents - About the museum Siwalima - The Maluku Islands (Moluccas) - History of the "Spice Islands"                  * Early history                  * The Iberians                     * The Dutch                 * After Indonesian independence                 * The 1999-2003 Inter-communal Conflict - The current exhibitions - Virtual Museum - Bibliography

 

 

Religion and ritual

 

 

 

Fertility sculpture Southeast Moluccas Size: H 12 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 0003 This archaeological object (figure of a pregnant woman) presumably represents fertility.

 

 

 

				Bin for betel Marsela, Southeast Moluccas Size: 88 x 39 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1282 This bin for betel paraphernalia is made of Pandanus leaves and rests on three wooden stands. These paraphernalia include tobacco, Sirih-leaves, Pinang-nuts, lime and lime-container, "Basta" drapery and palm wine. The shape of this bin for betel symbolizes fertility. Typically it is used in ceremonies.

 

 

 

Spirit boat "Doti" / Magic crab Southeast Moluccas (boat) / China (crab) Size: 13 cm Collection: Gereja Protestan Maluku 1974 Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 0404 / 0388 This small boat (called "Doti") was a tool to communicate with the spirits of the ancestors. It could also been used to harm or even kill enemies. The ceramic crab was part of a group of objects which was discovered in a christian Church on 4. April 1964. Subsequently this day was declared as a day of conversion, and all believers were prompted to hand out or burn possibly still existing heathen objects from the ancestors.

 

 

 

Ancestor's figure Leti Island? Size: 34 x 4 x 5 cm Collection: Breitenstein, Heinrich 1897 Museum of Ethnology, Vienna Cat. no. 60983 Cat. no. 60983 (Museum of Ethnology, Vienna)

 

 

 

Spoon M'asa Pusaka Ditemukan, Southeast Moluccas Size: L 27.5 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1065

 

 

 

Ancestor's figures Leti Serwaru Size: 11,5 x 13 cm Collection: Dr. J.M. Pierret 1973 Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 0294 / 0270 These figures are representing deceased family members. They were ritually honored and feasted with food, betel and tobacco. But there also exist similar figurines without any sacral meaning, these are simple expressions of art.

 

 

 

Figure "Patung Ukiran Kesuburan" Tanimbar Size: T 44 cm, L 7 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1794

 

 

 

Ancestor's figure Leti Island Size: 20 x 6 x 5 cm Collection: ESTE 1893 Museum of Ethnology, Vienna Cat. no. 107009

 

 

 

War amulet "Goeoelle Kodotti", with the spirit of the sea-eagle "Kohebba" Halmaheira Size: 5 x 6 x 31 cm Collection: Campen, Harry George 1882 Museum of Ethnology, Vienna Cat. no. 14563 Wooden figure

 

 

 

"Poreka" banner Babar Island Size: 120 x 68 cm Collection: ESTE 1893 Museum of Ethnology, Vienna Cat. no. 106811 This banner was flied during the annual fertility festival on Babar, whereupon the people praied for rain.

 

 

 

Figure Mas Tomata Ditemukan, Southeast Moluccas Size: T 13.5 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima 1993 Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1062

 

 

 

Fertility symbol Ukiran kesuburan Southeast Moluccas Size: L 94 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima 1973 Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1204

 

 

 

Drum Southeast Moluccas Size: T 80 cm, L.B. 130 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 0162

 

 

 

Figure Mas Up'lera Ditemukan, Southeast Moluccas Size: T 21.5 cm Collection: Museum Siwalima Museum Siwalima, Ambon Cat. no. 1079

 

 

 

 

 

<< PREVIOUS SECTION <<

< Top of Page >

>> NEXT SECTION >>

 

 

Share