Mysticism is present in all religions and religiyah.A how else to explain the impossible and nepoznannoe.Vseh and always worried and concerned about one issue - that there, below the physical smerti.Re - incarnation , heaven, hell ? To answer this question , man created idols , gods, surrounded them with the conventions and rituals, a science for understanding the "mystery" , and WHO as the saying is still there ..... No one can predict what will zavtra.A know hochetsya.Hochetsya " podstelit straw ", though the prayers before the icons and rituals , though ritual dances in masks. Everywhere there is mysticism - mandatory seasoning to obscurity.

Dear tandem, let's talk it in the theme "Images of the alphabet", mysticism, or prayer should be called the phenomenon in question.
(So ​​as not to interfere with the forum users discuss the Art of Africa).


Zara, need to somehow distinguish African secular and religious.

Magnolia, open two separate topics , " The Art of African religious" and " secular Art of Africa " I think unnecessary. You can not just talk at this site of religious significance , especially since none of us ( I think) is not a specialist in African cults.
I see this only as a specific art cultural phenomenon.
I actually artifacts of Christian culture is not ready to deal with ( at least here ) as ritual objects.
For me - it's an art, and this meaning is more than enough to be of value in my eyes.
There are forums in which to exchange views mystics , magicians , religious people of different faiths , philosophers and psychologists. When I want to know the opinion of a specialist, go there .

1.MAHONGWE - Gabon /Rep Pop. Congo
Reliquary figure from " Bwiti "
Wood, pigments , copper, brass , patina
h43 cm, 5 x L21 x p8

2. Congo (formerly Zaire) :: " Goblet of palm wine ", - h28 cm x L14 x p15

Masks from Angola

1.
"Pwo facial mask" - cm h34 x L22 x p15

2.
"Facial /Forehead ritual 'Cihongo' male mask" - cm h 20 x L18 x p22

3.
"Facial ritual mask" - cm h 27 x L31 x p30

4.
"Pwo facial mask" - cm h 22 x L13 x p11

5.
"Facial ritual female" Pwo "mask" - cm h46 x L20 x p30

It would be desirable, of course, to know the meaning of the symbol on the forehead ...
:shy:>

I saw this sign 4, merge in 5. Exactly the same thoughts I visited, when I look at our St. Isaac's Cathedral , or 4 onions smaller and fifth most other cathedrals and churches.
Zara , I'm ready to give my very logical explanation, but forum users have requested that my subject is "not away" . What to do?

better to do it in an "image" :)>

If not difficult, there perekin'te your question, masks and sign bigger.
Thank you.

Girl from Ethiopia.


Here is a black and light

A decoration!, I suppose, and weigh a lot!
:)>

And Namibia ...

With the sign of something clear.

I asked the experts.
Here's the answer in a nutshell.

This is one of the forms of representation cosmograms " Yaw " or " dikenga " - 4 stages of evolution ...
Kalunga - border line worlds nsec Mpemba - the line originated in the interaction of water and fire in early times.
Stage 4 /points on the boundary plane Kalunga - give us as 4 points on the ecliptic - the equinoxes and two solstices 2 ...

In other words - it is a symbolic cosmogram

Added after 3 minutes
African Art Library

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