Difference between revisions of "Rainbow Serpent"
m (Text replacement - "http://" to "https://") |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Aboriginal_Painting.jpg|right|frame]] | [[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Aboriginal_Painting.jpg|right|frame]] | ||
| − | The '''Rainbow Serpent''' (also known as the '''Rainbow Snake''') is an important [[mythology|mythological]] being for [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] people across [ | + | The '''Rainbow Serpent''' (also known as the '''Rainbow Snake''') is an important [[mythology|mythological]] being for [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] people across [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia Australia], although the [[creation myth]]s associated with it are best known from northern Australia. |
| − | The Rainbow Serpent is seen as the inhabitant of permanent waterholes and is in control of life's most precious resource, [[water]]. He is the underlying [[Aboriginal mythology]] for the famous [ | + | The Rainbow Serpent is seen as the inhabitant of permanent waterholes and is in control of life's most precious resource, [[water]]. He is the underlying [[Aboriginal mythology]] for the famous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback Outback] "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunyip bunyip]". He is the sometimes unpredictable Rainbow Serpent, who vies with the ever-reliable [[Sun]], that replenishes the stores of water, forming gullies and deep channels as he slithered across the landscape, allowing for the collection and distribution of water. |
| − | [ | + | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamtime Dreamtime] stories tell of the great Spirits during creation, in animal and human form they molded the barren and featureless [[earth]]. The Rainbow Serpent came from beneath the ground and created huge ridges, mountains and gorges as it pushed upward. The Rainbow Serpent is known as Ngalyod by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunwinggu Gunwinggu] and Borlung by the [[Miali]]. He is a serpent of immense proportions which inhabits deep permanent waterholes. (Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History ISBN 0-7018-1330-X) |
Serpent stories vary according to environmental differences. Tribes of the monsoon areas depict an epic interaction of the Sun, Serpent and [[wind]] in their Dreamtime stories, whereas tribes of the central desert experience less drastic seasonal shifts and their stories reflect this. | Serpent stories vary according to environmental differences. Tribes of the monsoon areas depict an epic interaction of the Sun, Serpent and [[wind]] in their Dreamtime stories, whereas tribes of the central desert experience less drastic seasonal shifts and their stories reflect this. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
There are innumerable names and stories associated with the serpent, all of which communicate the significance and [[power]] of this [[being]] within Aboriginal traditions. | There are innumerable names and stories associated with the serpent, all of which communicate the significance and [[power]] of this [[being]] within Aboriginal traditions. | ||
| − | The myth of the Rainbow serpent is sometimes associated with ''[ | + | The myth of the Rainbow serpent is sometimes associated with ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonambi_naracoortensis Wonambi naracoortensis]'', a large snake of the now extinct [[megafauna]] of Australia. |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | * [ | + | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawlor,_Robert Lawlor, Robert] (1991). ''Voices Of The First Day: Awakening in the Aboriginal dreamtime.'' Rochester, Vermont: [[Bear & Co.|Inner Traditions]] International, Ltd. ISBN 0-89281-355-5. |
| − | + | https://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/torwebster/?action=view¤t=rainbowserpent-website-sm2.jpg | |
| − | + | https://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/torwebster/rainbowserpent-website-sm2.jpg | |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| − | * [ | + | * [https://www.nlc.org.au/html/abt_rainbow.html Explaining Northern Land Council's use of the Rainbow Serpent in its logo] Accessed 8 July 2008 |
| − | * [ | + | * [https://www.astronomy.pomona.edu/archeo/australia/jennifer.sumner.aborigines/myth1.htm A rainbow serpent myth accompanying Jimmy Njiminjuma bark painting ] Accessed 8 July 2008 |
| − | *The Rainbow Serpent Project www.rainbowserpent.co.uk [ | + | *The Rainbow Serpent Project www.rainbowserpent.co.uk [https://www.rainbowserpent.co.uk link title] |
Latest revision as of 01:49, 13 December 2020
The Rainbow Serpent (also known as the Rainbow Snake) is an important mythological being for Aboriginal people across Australia, although the creation myths associated with it are best known from northern Australia.
The Rainbow Serpent is seen as the inhabitant of permanent waterholes and is in control of life's most precious resource, water. He is the underlying Aboriginal mythology for the famous Outback "bunyip". He is the sometimes unpredictable Rainbow Serpent, who vies with the ever-reliable Sun, that replenishes the stores of water, forming gullies and deep channels as he slithered across the landscape, allowing for the collection and distribution of water.
Dreamtime stories tell of the great Spirits during creation, in animal and human form they molded the barren and featureless earth. The Rainbow Serpent came from beneath the ground and created huge ridges, mountains and gorges as it pushed upward. The Rainbow Serpent is known as Ngalyod by the Gunwinggu and Borlung by the Miali. He is a serpent of immense proportions which inhabits deep permanent waterholes. (Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History ISBN 0-7018-1330-X)
Serpent stories vary according to environmental differences. Tribes of the monsoon areas depict an epic interaction of the Sun, Serpent and wind in their Dreamtime stories, whereas tribes of the central desert experience less drastic seasonal shifts and their stories reflect this.
It is known both as a benevolent protector of its people (the groups from the country around) and as a malevolent punisher of law breakers. The rainbow serpent's mythology is closely linked to Earth, water, life, social relationships and fertility.
There are innumerable names and stories associated with the serpent, all of which communicate the significance and power of this being within Aboriginal traditions.
The myth of the Rainbow serpent is sometimes associated with Wonambi naracoortensis, a large snake of the now extinct megafauna of Australia.
References
- Lawlor, Robert (1991). Voices Of The First Day: Awakening in the Aboriginal dreamtime. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, Ltd. ISBN 0-89281-355-5.
https://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/torwebster/?action=view¤t=rainbowserpent-website-sm2.jpg https://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/torwebster/rainbowserpent-website-sm2.jpg
External links
- Explaining Northern Land Council's use of the Rainbow Serpent in its logo Accessed 8 July 2008
- A rainbow serpent myth accompanying Jimmy Njiminjuma bark painting Accessed 8 July 2008
- The Rainbow Serpent Project www.rainbowserpent.co.uk link title
