Frobenius, Leo: Prehistoric rock pictures in Europe and Africa: from material in the archives of the Research Institute for the Morphology of Civilization, Frankfort-on-Main (New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1937)

Rock painting. Rain ceremony. South-
ern Rhodesia (catalog no. 122)

morning star sent down the rain. This is the explanation of pictures
No. 122 and No. 123. We see the priest standing before the dying
princess who lies beneath the tree and in the sky we see Venus (Mas-
sassi), the morning star, sending down the rain. In No. 123 the tree is
schematized and at its top is a serpent, even today a symbol for rain.


Ritual regicide, which is believed to have taken place at astronom-
ically determined intervals, was customary in the sacred state. Picture
No. 127 depicts such a ceremony. On the right stands the king wear-
ing the bull hide in which he will be buried. Further to the right the
hide is rolled up with the king inside it and below it is a sacrifical
animal with the blood streaming from its mouth. In the centre is the
mountain in which the king will be buried. In the upper left corner
we see the new king receiving a bow, symbol of life and power, while
near him a sorrowful figure mourns the fate of his predecessor.

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