Skeleton tribe - Papua-New-Guinea
The Chimbu skeleton tribe.
I have found different origin stories for this tribe. Why do they paint themselves like this? It's a hard to tell but below are 2 of the most common reasons.
According to their folklore the skeleton based getup was initiated as a way to scare other tribes, with death and ghosts provoking fear across the spectrum of the tribes of Papua New Guinea. Thus the aim was to make enemies think they were supernatural and thus held other worldly powers.
( source: www.youngpioneerstours.com )
The origins of the Skeleton Tribe can be traced back to an intriguing legend. Approximately 200 years ago, a significant number of hunters ventured into the mountains but failed to return. This mysterious disappearance raised alarm among the valley dwellers. Determined to uncover the truth, a brave group of warriors embarked on an expedition to explore the mountains.
As they ventured deeper into the rugged terrain, the warriors stumbled upon a cave. Inside, they discovered a chilling sight – an abundance of human skeletons. However, their attention was quickly drawn to a colossal monster lurking within the confines of the cave. Realizing the imminent danger, the warriors devised a clever plan to outsmart the monster.
To deceive the creature, they decided to paint their bodies with skeleton bones made of black and white clay. Diligently, they meticulously recreated the appearance of the fallen hunters, meticulously blending the painted bones with the actual ones. The ruse succeeded, and as the monster slumbered, the victorious warriors stealthily made their way back to the safety of their village.
( source: www.tribesofpapuanewguinea.com )
Join me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/stevengoethals_photography/
Skeleton tribe - Papua-New-Guinea
The Chimbu skeleton tribe.
I have found different origin stories for this tribe. Why do they paint themselves like this? It's a hard to tell but below are 2 of the most common reasons.
According to their folklore the skeleton based getup was initiated as a way to scare other tribes, with death and ghosts provoking fear across the spectrum of the tribes of Papua New Guinea. Thus the aim was to make enemies think they were supernatural and thus held other worldly powers.
( source: www.youngpioneerstours.com )
The origins of the Skeleton Tribe can be traced back to an intriguing legend. Approximately 200 years ago, a significant number of hunters ventured into the mountains but failed to return. This mysterious disappearance raised alarm among the valley dwellers. Determined to uncover the truth, a brave group of warriors embarked on an expedition to explore the mountains.
As they ventured deeper into the rugged terrain, the warriors stumbled upon a cave. Inside, they discovered a chilling sight – an abundance of human skeletons. However, their attention was quickly drawn to a colossal monster lurking within the confines of the cave. Realizing the imminent danger, the warriors devised a clever plan to outsmart the monster.
To deceive the creature, they decided to paint their bodies with skeleton bones made of black and white clay. Diligently, they meticulously recreated the appearance of the fallen hunters, meticulously blending the painted bones with the actual ones. The ruse succeeded, and as the monster slumbered, the victorious warriors stealthily made their way back to the safety of their village.
( source: www.tribesofpapuanewguinea.com )
Join me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/stevengoethals_photography/