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Osun rod

Rods on the Osun altars not only symbolise the power of the plants of the forest, their material, iron, contains this power itself. They were used by ritual specialists in oracles, for healing and above all as a means against witchcraft, an all-encompassing threat. Birds, snakes, chameleons and animal horns filled with dangerous substances illustrate the occult powers. Wands with depictions of the king show who is the master of this power. As on the Osun heads, the snakes, the stone blade of the god of death in the king's hand and the leopard refer to the occult power of the king, which elevates him above all his political rivals.

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Data Provider
Ethnologisches Museum
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Plastic
Dimensions
Gewicht: 21,2 kg
Objektmaß: 163 x 17 x 18 cm
Material/Technique
Brass
Current location
Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Inventory number
III Nls 207

Provenance and sources

when
18th century-19th century.
where
Nigeria [Land]
Benin [Königreich]

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