- Term
fetishes
- Broader Term
religious objects
- Alternate Term
fetish?
fetish
- Remarks
Both pre-historic and modern Southwest Pueblos made small animal fetishes. Images of domestic animals were made of clay and bread dough and placed in corrals to insure fecudity. During Christmas, dough and unbaked images of animals and food plants are placed on church altars. These are later moved to storerooms, fields, or other locations where native supernaturals will become aware of the suggested need. Bear images were in the roster of curing animals. Unpained, unfired clay images of wild foods such as yucca and cactus fruits have been found in a cave on Jemez land. Hopi and Zuni are known to place clay peaches on altars for the solstice ceremony. Zuni have also been reported to add clay images of money and jewelry. Refer to reference pp. 162-164. Ellis, Florence H. 1969 Differencial Pueblo Specialization in Fetishes and Shrines. Anales de Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia. Sobreretiro, Septima Epocha, Tomo 1, pp.159-180. Mexico City.