Australian Dreaming
Explain a key feature of the Pintupi concept of The Dreaming.
Continuous, eternal, ancestral beings shaped the world
Who are the Hero Twins and what is their main role?
Twins defeat supernatural forces/gods; act as cosmic agents.
What is Mesoamerica and why is it significant?
Region from central Mexico through parts of Central America, advanced civilizations
What is one similarity between Dreaming stories and Hero Twin myths?
Both assign humans a role in maintaining cosmic order
In Aboriginal stories, how do ordinary objects often transform?
Objects transform into landforms or sacred symbols during creation
In the Wandjina Rainbow Serpent story, what did Goorialla create?
Mountains, rivers, animals, and social customs for humans.
What common theme appears in Hero Twin myths?
Twins defeat death/death-related deities; demonstrate courage and intelligence.
What is the Mesoamerican ballgame, and what does it symbolize?
Ritual sport representing struggle between life/death, cosmic balance
How do Dreaming stories and Hero Twin myths function in their cultures?
Both encode cultural knowledge, ethics, and human-cosmos relationship
In the Kangaroo and Wombat story, what does the dilly bag symbolize?
Dilly bag symbolizes transformation into spiritual guidance
How do Pintupi people explain the origin of social customs and laws?
Instituted in The Dreaming; humans maintain laws
What challenges do the Hero Twins face, and what do they represent?
Face Xibalba’s challenges, representing life, death, and morality.
Which deity is associated with rain and fertility (Maya)?
Tlaloc – rain god, fertility, goggle eyes/fangs
What role do humans play in both Dreaming and Mesoamerican myths?
Humans maintain laws/spiritual order in both traditions
In Djang’kawu, what happens to the sisters’ sacred objects?
Sacred objects transform into landforms, trees, freshwater wells (Djang’kawu).
What is true about the Nyungar Waakal?
Controls water sources, maintains life on the land
How does the ballgame function in the Hero Twin myth?
Ballgame represents struggle between life/death and order/chaos.
What is a codex and what purpose does it serve?
Codex – record of history, religion, astronomy
What is a similarity in human interaction with spiritual beings in both traditions?
Both show human interaction with spiritual beings maintains order
In Dreaming stories, how do sacred objects or tools relate to landforms or law?
Objects/tools relate to landforms, law, and culture
How do humans interact with The Dreaming or its beings?
Maintain and honor spiritual laws, follow moral guidance.
How do the Hero Twins illustrate morality or cosmic order?
Illustrate morality, cosmic order, human effort, and divine authority
Who is Quetzalcoatl and what does he symbolize?
Quetzalcoatl – feathered serpent, wisdom, wind, creation
How do humans maintain or honor cosmic or moral order in these myths?
Sacred places connect spiritual beings, landforms, and human behavior
In the Rainbow Serpent stories, how are sacred places connected to human behavior?
Rainbow Serpent stories show sacred places tied to water, behavior, and morality