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Image / Die Wohnung d. Erdspinne

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Title
Die Wohnung d. Erdspinne
The earth-spider's home
Creator
Zürcher, Wilhelm (Mr)
Date Created and/or Issued
1932/1938
Publication Information
University of Southern California. Libraries
Contributing Institution
University of Southern California Digital Library
Collection
International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960
Rights Information
All the images (photographic and non-photographic) made available in this collection are the property of the Basel Mission and are managed by mission 21. mission 21 / Basel Mission claim copyright on the images in their possession and require those publishing any of the images--both individuals and organisations--to pay a user's/copyright fee.
Contact the Archives of mission21 at address mentioned or at info@bmpix.org.
info@bmarchives.org
mission21
mission21, Missionsstrasse 21, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland, tel. (+41 61 260 22 42), fax (+4161 260 22 68)
Description
Annotation translation: "This remarkable construction is the protective roof for the earth spider's house. One can only see the entrance - a small hole. The earth spider knows about things, therefore one enquires of it when one would like to know in advance how something will turn out. Small pieces of wood are laid on the ground and over the hole. If the spider leaves its hole it touches some and turns them round. Then the diviner comes, looks at the pieces of wood, and expounds what the significance is of what the spider has 'said' by moving them."
Annotation: "Solch ein merkwürdiges Gerippe ist ein Schutzdach für die Wohnung der Erdspinne. Man sieht nur den Eingang dazu, das kleine Loch. Die Erdspinne weiss Bescheid, darum befragt man sie, wenn man gerne im voraus wissen möchte, wie eine Sache ausgeht. Es werden kleine Hölzchen auf den Boden & über das Loch gelegt. Geht die Spinne heraus, so berührt sie diese & wendet einzelne um. Dann kommt der Zauberer, besieht sich die Stäbchen & legt aus, was das zu bedeuten hat, was die Spinne durch Verschieben der Hölzchen 'sagte'."
Stamped: "Museum der Basler Mission, Basel, Missionsstrasse 21."
Type
image
Format
b/w positive, paper print, gelatin-silver
8.0 x 10.8 cm.
Identifier
impa-m30278 [Legacy record ID]
impa-abmpix-20731
http://doi.org/10.25549/impa-m30278
http://thumbnails.digitallibrary.usc.edu/impa-abmpix-20731.jpg
Subject
Divination
Oracle
Ritual object
Sacral place
Spider
Time Period
1932/1938
Place
Cameroon
Mbembe
Source
E-30.85.162 [Same image reference number]
E-30.85.254 [Reference number]
Relation
Cameroon. Land, people, religion. 5 Photographs by Zürcher. A) Land, nature, plants, animals, landscapes, places; b) the life of the people; c) religion
Historical Photographs from the Basel Mission
International Mission Photography Archive, ca.1860-ca.1960
impa-m15099; impa-m17144
impa-m30278
mission 21 / Basel Mission

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