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Mantis in Kult und Mythe der Buschmänner
Author(s) -
Schimitschek Erwin
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
zeitschrift für angewandte entomologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0044-2240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1974.tb01895.x
Subject(s) - mantis , worship , mythology , cult , painting , art , zoology , history , literature , philosophy , biology , art history , ancient history , theology
Mantis in cult and myths of the Bushmen. The rock‐paintings produced mainly between 1600 and 1800 are very important for the knowledge of the worship of animals by the Bushmen of South Africa. The paintings are not only images of animals but also expressions of religious ideas. Species of the genus Mantis (Orthoptera, Mantidae) constitute the centre of the worship of God by the Bushmen. In South Africa the Mantis is named as “hottentot god”. The Mantis is able to take on human shape or the shape of antilopes. Also in the myths of the Bushmen the Mantis enacts an important part.