Gope Boards

Gope Boards

Gope Boards are wooden ritual objects made in the Papuan Gulf of New Guinea. They represent spirits which can protect clans from sickness, evil spirits, and death.

Small un-named gope boards are often given to uninitiated boys, and a full size board is made by the uncle of a boy for his initiation ceremony. Also, warriors are awarded gope boards for each act of bravery they perform in battle (often made out of the enemies canoe). These gope boards vary in size, but can be up to six feet long and have a consistent elliptical shape. They are carved in relief and then painted with lime(white) and red ochre and other native paints. Most gope boards have a similar style and depict the face of an ancestral spirit.

Gope boards are also used in raids on other clans and headhunting missions. They are consulted as to which enemy to attack, and the spirits contained in the boards are thought to go ahead of the warriors to sap the enemies of their strength. They are also used to display skulls won in battle.

External links

* [http://www.art-pacific.com/artifacts/nuguinea/papuan/gulfmap.htm Papuan Gulf Map] - Information about Papuan Gulf culture.
* [http://web.archive.org/http://www.pacificislandarts.com/id16.html Gope Boards] - View various Gope Boards (Internet Archive).


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Papuan mythology — The Papuans are one of four major cultural groups of Papua New Guinea. The majority of the population lives in rural areas. In isolated areas there still remains a handful of the giant communal structures that previously housed the whole male… …   Wikipedia

  • 2010 Copiapó mining accident — Copiapó mining accident redirects here. For the 2006 accident in the Carola Agustina mine, see 2006 Copiapó mining accident. 2010 Copiapó mining accident Rescue efforts at San José Mine near Copiapó, Chile on 10 August 2010 Date …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”