Because the Fang peoples historically led a semi-nomadic lifestyle in Central Africa, they carried the bones of their ancestors in portable bark containers rather than burying them in permanent cemeteries. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the carved wooden guardian figures (byeri) associated with these containers?
- To protect the ancestral remains from spiritual threats and ward off uninitiated members of the community from the sacred relicsCevap
- BTo serve as a helmet mask worn by elders during agricultural masquerades to ensure crop fertility
- CTo resolve local judicial disputes when activated by driving metal nails and blades into the figure's torso
- DTo act as a hunting talisman that is ritually buried in the forest to guarantee the success of subsequent hunts
Cevap
To protect the ancestral remains from spiritual threats and ward off uninitiated members of the community from the sacred relics
The correct answer describes the primary function of the byeri. Placed on top of the bark chests containing ancestral bones, these wooden sculptures served both to guard the remains from malicious spirits and to warn uninitiated individuals, such as women and children, to stay away from the dangerous spiritual power of the relics.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Fang reliquary guardian figures (byeri) served to protect ancestral remains and warn uninitiated individuals away from their sacred power.