Author: Geza Roheim

Publisher:

Published: 1945

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13:

Chap.1; Meaning & explanation of totemic myth; accounts of ritual in myth; misunderstandings of words give rise to new meanings, e.g. Pindupi Euro increase song & Pitjentara Wild Cat tradition songs with translations; historical basis, mythological paths, phallic symbolism of feet; Chap.2; Dual heroes - recurring motive of myths which are really accounts of initiation; 28 myths given in detail (Pitjentara, Aranda, Ngatara, Nambutji, Ngatatjara, Yulbara, Binbinga, Murngin, Karadjeri, Dieri, Karangaru, Ngameni, Tirari, Urabunna, Kuyani, Allaua, Wonkanguru, Umatjera, Warramunga, Mungarai, Ooldea & Eyre regions); songs with translations - Pitjentara, Aranda, Nambutji; Chap.3; Origin of circumcision, rites of Mungarai, Djauan & Aranda concerning foreskin, selection of circumcisor (Mandjindja, Nambutji, Pitjentara, Kaitish) tooth avulsion in Waramunga; rites of circumcision, subincision; Ngatara & W. Aranda beliefs; Chap.4; Tjurunga - comments on Wikmunkan & Wiknatara ritual showing significance of bullroarers; doctrine of two bullroarers (Pitjentara & Mularatara); significance (Aranda & Luritja); types of tjurunga - Ilpirra, Dieri; phallic shapes - Worora, Nannine district; Pitjentara & Kimberleys - resembling testicles; phallic symbolism in myths of Aranda, Jumu, Kukata (Matuntara), Pindupi, Pitjentara; malformation of leg or foot as feature of supernatural beings (Luritja, Jumu, Pindupi, Pitjentara) - totemic sticks song with translation; Karadjeri Ant ritual described; Chap.5; Phallic ritual - features which separate non sacred from sacred; Aranda increase rite to increase sexual desire, meanings of ritual decoration in Kangaroo Ceremony, part enacted by women; Chap.6; The concentric circle & the fertility rite, significance of ditch or hole combined with fire, ritual smoking; fire ceremonies of Warramunga, Melville Island, Murngin; smoking of mother & child (Aranda, Jumu, Pitjentara); dreams of initiators; Karadjeri parallel of Aranda fire ritual; Chap.7; Destruction & restitution - renewing footsteps of ancestors, rock paintings; spirit children, re-birth of food animals, eating of totem; Chap.8; Ngallunga; erotic significance of dreams, Aranda ritual, importance of white down as fertilizing agency, phallic nature of myths; Pitjentara subincision song; menstrual ritual of Karadjeri women, love magic, song with translation; menstruation taboos (Aranda, Karadjeri), men in Ngallunga ritual represent menstruating women; castration anxieties; Chap.9; Rainbow Serpent - Murngin ritual, incest myth (Arnhem Land, Murngin); totemism & the snake cult, snake as spirit of fertility, ambisexual symbolism of snake; analysis of fantasies & anxieties; human creation beliefs (Dieri, Pindupi, Jumu, Aranda, Unmatjera, Kaitish & Vic. tribes); child myths, plants as sex symbols; myth & dream fantasy where blood from subincision becomes source of creative powers; Chap.10; Wandering ancestors; Wirangu & Murunitja versions of dual hero myth, connection with red ochre; mythical women of Andjamatana & spirit children; importance of blood; Chap.11; Myths & dreams; connecting environment with libids; masturbation, making friends by chanting erogeneous zones; dream mechanism as nucleus of ritual and myth; Chap.12; Totem sacrament; what is learned from tjurunga markings, belief in the common body as representing the dual unity organization; Addenda; historical background of Altjiranga Mitjina myths; myth of Wati Kutjara, Darana ulu, Njirana & Julana, phallic interpretation of lizard, circle & the hole, fire in initiation rites; quotes many authors.