Modern Power Symbols incorporated into Shields.

Bill M · 26th November 2006, 10:14 PM

Used by permission of Erik Farrow. Thanks Erik.

I saw this shield at a Tribal Textiles and Art show in New York about a year ago. Erik had recently sold it.

"The comic book character The Phantom was introduced into New Guinea as a teaching tool in schools and missionaries, and was then picked up by the warriors to depict the brave warrior who could not die. This shield is characteristic of the later shields that were made after the 1960's and is made of metal and decorated with mostly commercial paints. Tribal warfare and the use of shields have continued into the 21st century in the remote highland areas." ---- Erik Farrow.

The license plate came from the front of a military vehicle. The warriors had seen it in action and decided that license plate had the power of the vehicle since it preceded the vehicle, maybe it helped to protect it --- a kind of shield for it --- so they incorporated it as another power symbol on the shield.

Certainly our technology must seem like very powerful magic to more primitive people.

Does anyone have any other examples like this?

David · 26th November 2006, 10:56 PM

I believe it was Arthur C. Clarke who once said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. So, perhaps, the military vehicle.
The phantom shield is awesome, especially the first one. This demonstrates an important principle of how this type of practical magic works and why it is so easily dismissed by outside cultures, even (or perhaps especially in this case) if the symbolism used is borrowed from the disbelieving culture. This is probably powerful magick in inter-tribal combat, but it would hold little sway over the Western psyche if presented in battle, which would probably have little understanding of how this symbolism is incorporated into the tribe's magickal system.

Battara · 27th November 2006, 07:27 PM

Yes I have seen this shield on his site. Fascinating really.

David - this is one of my favorite quotes from Arthur C. Clarke

26th November 2006, 10:14 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Modern Power Symbols incorporated into Shields. Used by permission of Erik Farrow. Thanks Erik. I saw this shield at a Tribal Textiles and Art show in New York about a year ago. Erik had recently sold it. "The comic book character The Phantom was introduced into New Guinea as a teaching tool in schools and missionaries, and was then picked up by the warriors to depict the brave warrior who could not die. This shield is characteristic of the later shields that were made after the 1960's and is made of metal and decorated with mostly commercial paints. Tribal warfare and the use of shields have continued into the 21st century in the remote highland areas." ---- Erik Farrow. The license plate came from the front of a military vehicle. The warriors had seen it in action and decided that license plate had the power of the vehicle since it preceded the vehicle, maybe it helped to protect it --- a kind of shield for it --- so they incorporated it as another power symbol on the shield. Certainly our technology must seem like very powerful magic to more primitive people. Does anyone have any other examples like this? Attached Images

26th November 2006, 10:56 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	I believe it was Arthur C. Clarke who once said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. So, perhaps, the military vehicle. The phantom shield is awesome, especially the first one. This demonstrates an important principle of how this type of practical magic works and why it is so easily dismissed by outside cultures, even (or perhaps especially in this case) if the symbolism used is borrowed from the disbelieving culture. This is probably powerful magick in inter-tribal combat, but it would hold little sway over the Western psyche if presented in battle, which would probably have little understanding of how this symbolism is incorporated into the tribe's magickal system.

27th November 2006, 07:27 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	Yes I have seen this shield on his site. Fascinating really. David - this is one of my favorite quotes from Arthur C. Clarke