Basic symbols
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Introduction
The paintings of the Indigenous People contain symbols. Every symbol has its own meaning. But it becomes problematic at alterations, that dependent on the context within the picture. This statement will be able to give you a first overview. You will not be able to translate complete paintings but you will be able to understand some "words".
Here you see the elementary symbols of painting:
Symbols
Dots
The dots represent tracks of people or animals. You can compare this with footprints, that are left during a walk on the ground. The tracks in the ground can be read. For example hunters can read the track of the animal.
Circles
Circles represent locations. They describe places created by people or natur. Natural places were created in the dreamtime. For example this places are mountains, valleys or ponds. The places created by people are like campgrounds or fireplaces.
Circles and lines
The lines describe voyages between the places painted as circles. This could be the voyages of the ancestors in the country. It can be the trip of a hunter, too. The hunter moves around the country in order to hunt food for his friends. This hunter passes many different places.
Circles and dots
This symbols are a combination. It is possible that it is about places, in which many people or animals live like in towns. The opposite would be the desert. Other sources describe this symbol as rocks or egg.
Diamonds
The diamonds describe the shedstructure of animals like crocodiles.
Tonsillar
The tonsillar like structures marks holy places. These special places are silhouetted against places painted as circles.
Triangles
The triangles stand for movements. That can be movements of creature like people or animals. However, it can be also about movements of parts in the landscape, for example from wind that moved sand or a water.
Waves
The waves show also movements. But that are special movements of water. If you compare this with the lines: Line are movement in the country and waves are movements on the water.
See also
- In the main-article of the paintings you find more information and examples.
