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THE RAINBOW‐SERPENT MYTH IN SOUTH‐EAST AUSTRALIA

THE RAINBOW‐SERPENT MYTH IN SOUTH‐EAST AUSTRALIA THE RAINBOW-SERPENT MYTH IN SOUTH-EAST AUSTRALIA BY A. R. RADCLIFFE-BROWN In 192.6 I published in the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute a short paper on the rainbow-serpent myth in Australia, in which I pointed out its widespread distribution in many parts of the continent. My studies of Australian beliefs had led me to the conclusion that this particular myth is one of the most important of the mythology and that fuller knowledge of it is necessary in any attempt we may make to undertsand the Australian conception of nature. Recent field researches in the northern parts of Australia have amply confirmed this surmise. This myth is a belief in a gigantic serpent which has its home in deep and permanent waterholes and represents the element of water which is of such vital importance to man in all parts of Australia. The serpent is often regarded as being visible to human eyes in the form of the rainbow. The rainbow-serpent as it appears in Australian belief may with some justification be described as occupying the position of a deity, and perhaps the most important nature-deity. In some tribes it is the object of a definite cult either as part http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Oceania Wiley

THE RAINBOW‐SERPENT MYTH IN SOUTH‐EAST AUSTRALIA

Radcliffe‐Brown, A. R.
Oceania , Volume 1 (3) – Oct 1, 1930
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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 1930 The University of Sydney
ISSN
0029-8077
eISSN
1834-4461
DOI
10.1002/j.1834-4461.1930.tb01653.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE RAINBOW-SERPENT MYTH IN SOUTH-EAST AUSTRALIA BY A. R. RADCLIFFE-BROWN In 192.6 I published in the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute a short paper on the rainbow-serpent myth in Australia, in which I pointed out its widespread distribution in many parts of the continent. My studies of Australian beliefs had led me to the conclusion that this particular myth is one of the most important of the mythology and that fuller knowledge of it is necessary in any attempt we may make to undertsand the Australian conception of nature. Recent field researches in the northern parts of Australia have amply confirmed this surmise. This myth is a belief in a gigantic serpent which has its home in deep and permanent waterholes and represents the element of water which is of such vital importance to man in all parts of Australia. The serpent is often regarded as being visible to human eyes in the form of the rainbow. The rainbow-serpent as it appears in Australian belief may with some justification be described as occupying the position of a deity, and perhaps the most important nature-deity. In some tribes it is the object of a definite cult either as part

Journal

Oceania – Wiley

Published: Oct 1, 1930

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