IMG_8706
Agricultural divination calendar
Indonesia
Engraved bone, bamboo
Batak, Sumatra
The signs incised on the calendar symbolize both auspicious and inauspicious days of the agricultural cycle. These objects are made and used by dukun, the ritual master. Each dukun has his own system of signs that only his students understand. The most used ones are the Naga Padoha snake and the lizard son of Mangalabulan. Both are mythical deities of the Batak people.
IMG_8706
Agricultural divination calendar
Indonesia
Engraved bone, bamboo
Batak, Sumatra
The signs incised on the calendar symbolize both auspicious and inauspicious days of the agricultural cycle. These objects are made and used by dukun, the ritual master. Each dukun has his own system of signs that only his students understand. The most used ones are the Naga Padoha snake and the lizard son of Mangalabulan. Both are mythical deities of the Batak people.