Most likely the Maori concept of deity Tiki didn't sprout in Maori culture but is derived from an Egyptian god (even more likely from another African country like Somali). This deity is commonly known as the Egyptian god Bes.
Bes was an idolized dwarf god who's functions were to protect pregnant women, children and households. He was also said to be present at births, a birthgiving protector. Bes was a funny, loving god. Ancient legends state that when a baby laughed Bes was somewhere in the chamber making funny faces.
Apart from the "new life" resemblance there are other, aesthetic, similarities between art works of Bes and carvings of the Maori god Tiki who was the creator of life.
Both gods were depicted with hands on hips or upper thighs, bow shaped legs, a round belly, a large head with an open mouth with poking tongue, big goggle shaped eyes, defiant stance, genitalia in sight.
They also both held a similar shaped weapon. In case of Bes this was resembled by the Sa hieroglyph, a weapon and symbol for protection. Tiki was sometimes shown with Maori club, a weapon called Patu or Mere. The shape of both items is very similar. (the Sa hieroglyph and symbol later developed into the Egyptian Ankh which also stands for new life and afterlife.) Apart from the resembling characteristic features of Maori Tiki carvings and Egyptian god Bes depictions there are more clues to the connection between the two.
The Egyptian creation god Ptah, who was also represented as a bow-legged dwarf or fetus, is called 'the opener and in other texts referred to as Pataikos, “the Creator of the world, the sun, and moon, out of chaos (ha), or matter (mu).” Again a resemblance with the Maori Tiki who created the first man after his image and then the first woman out of chaos.
Read more about it here and here.
9 comments:
This is awful! No research and no understanding of the cultures. No connection. Laughable!
bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha ... i agree witht he comment above based on what??? no research, no understanding of cultures, bahahahahahahahahahahahahaha i reckon, laughable is a mild description
No understanding as above. Do your homework first.
This is a pretty cool article. http://www.celticnz.org/images/VikingMeasures/Bes&Taranis.htm
Brilliant article,bes is not the only similar deity,Maui was real also,the deeds of his legends a lesson in itself. kohu..all you fullars do is reckon.. u awl shet air.
I think this is pretty cool. why the haters above? what research do you mean? into Maori or egyptian cultures?
Hi. I found your blog searching for why the Maori stick their tongue out during the Haka since Bes is often depicted with his tongue out. The Polynesians said the "Tikki Tikki" took them to their original homelands. The "Tikki Tikki" are "Pygmies" so the Tiki God of the Maori had to have been the same people.I believe Bes is a "Pygmy" with dwarfism because the height of "Pygmies" is not a genetic abnormality like dwarfism. Igore the trolls. Bes was known all over the world.
I understand that cultures stem from previous cultures, maintaining and changing aspects as they go.
Great and that i have a nifty offer you: How Much Renovate House exterior home renovation
Post a Comment