DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0119
Symbolism
97
A few examples may also illustrate the explanations given by
Shoshone Indians.1 The interpretations are largely geographic. In
fig. 89 the red central rectangle represents the ground, the green
background trees. On this green ground is a lake, indicated by the
blue area in the center, the yellow line dividing the central field,
is an inlet of the lake. The obtuse blue triangle on the sides of the
central rectangle represents mountains with timber. The triangles
on the short sides are also mountains. The yellow apex is the sun
shining on the mountains, the red middle part of the triangle the
ground, the green area at the base, grass at the foot of the moun-
tains. In the corners we find small triangles representing sand and
over them the yellow sun light.
On a second Shoshone parfleche obtuse triangles in the central
rectangle and smaller triangles in the longitudinal borderstrips re-
present mountains, a red line in the center stands for a river, and
right-angle triangles are tipis.
1 These are taken from observations by H. H. St. Clair at Wind River Reservation.
Lowie did not succeed in obtaining any explanations at the Lemhi Agency, Idaho.
7 — Kulturforskning. B. VIII.
97
A few examples may also illustrate the explanations given by
Shoshone Indians.1 The interpretations are largely geographic. In
fig. 89 the red central rectangle represents the ground, the green
background trees. On this green ground is a lake, indicated by the
blue area in the center, the yellow line dividing the central field,
is an inlet of the lake. The obtuse blue triangle on the sides of the
central rectangle represents mountains with timber. The triangles
on the short sides are also mountains. The yellow apex is the sun
shining on the mountains, the red middle part of the triangle the
ground, the green area at the base, grass at the foot of the moun-
tains. In the corners we find small triangles representing sand and
over them the yellow sun light.
On a second Shoshone parfleche obtuse triangles in the central
rectangle and smaller triangles in the longitudinal borderstrips re-
present mountains, a red line in the center stands for a river, and
right-angle triangles are tipis.
1 These are taken from observations by H. H. St. Clair at Wind River Reservation.
Lowie did not succeed in obtaining any explanations at the Lemhi Agency, Idaho.
7 — Kulturforskning. B. VIII.