It has a towering, round head that is sculpted with an intimidating face, and its limbs hang freely from its body. That is the representation of the Papua New Guinean Biwat male ancestor ghost figure. The religious carvings have additional characteristics that set them apart as well. Its nostril and both of its ears are pierced.
Although its eyes are pearl colored, the back of its skull has more piercings. According to Bonhams, it has pointed features in the shape of its neck, ankles, and wrists.
One of the cherished male spirit figures among the people of Papua New Guinea is the Biwat ancestral spirit figure.
It has in its possession the sacred flutes of the Biwat people who reside on the shores of the middle of Yaut River in Papua New Guinea.
The Biwat male ancestor spirit image is a totem of one of the clans in the area, according to Art Daily, because it is said that the ancestors of Papua New Guinea spoke to men through flutes.
Flutes are respected objects in Papua New Guinean rituals and belief systems in addition to being musical instruments. The flute is made of bamboo and produces sound by allowing air to pass through cut apertures at each end.
The finest flutes in Papua New Guinea are thought to be made by the Biwat tribe. The flutes are ornamented and modeled after human characteristics to highlight their physical characteristics. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, there are flutes that the Biwat people identify with crocodile spirits. They are typically made in a unique way to stand out.
They are referred to as Ashin flutes and are frequently utilized in Papua New Guinea during initiation rites. According to legend, a teen must crawl into a huge crocodile’s jaws and bear the scars left by the reptile’s teeth in order to reach adulthood.
It is typical to see young adults with tribal marks or deep incisions on their flesh that resulted from undergoing initiation rites. In various rites in the region of Papua New Guinea, the Biwat spirit image is worn as a mask. The mask is thought of as a barrier dividing the spiritual realm from the material one.
One of the most amazing Biwat masks was carved by the Alamblak in the eastern Sepik Hills. It denotes the guardian spirits of war and hunting in their culture. Their carving differs differently in how its hook appears. It features a human face in some places and has an ancient appearance in others.
Instead of the typical features of the Biwat spirit figures, one carving that was unearthed by archaeologists from the burial rock shelters of the Ewa is sculpted in panels and scrolls.
Other statues of the spirit beings have been spotted, and they have hands and arms uplifted and feminine features. The Biwat male ancestor statue from the East Sepik Province was selling for $1.5 million, according to the national news portal in 2010.