Aboriginal Symbols and their Meanings

Words
310
Reading
2 min
9y
Listen to this post
~2 min

Queensland And Northern Territory Aboriginal Symbols - an essential part of Aboriginal Australian art and the foundation behind Aboriginal historical records.

Introducing qantas@qantas

QANTAS

This post provides a brief insight into Aboriginal symbols with all images and art coming from 'Central Art - Aboriginal Art Store'.

http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-art/

If you this post stirs your interest in Aboriginal art and culture we would encourage you to visit the Central Art Gallery here:

http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/galleries/


alt

Many of the symbols used by Aboriginal artists are a variation of lines or dots. Similar symbols can have multiple meanings according to the art region and the elaborate combination of these can tell complex Dreamtime stories.

alt

This symbol represents the tracks of a dingo, which is an Australian native dog.

alt

Roundels depicted in Aboriginal artworks can be camp site or water hole. These sites are culturally significant to Australian Aboriginal people living in Central Australia.

alt

These circles have multiple interpretations: ants (honey ants), fruits, flowers or eggs. These are gathered by Australian Aboriginal women as a food source or used as a bush medicine.

alt

This icon represents the tracks of the goanna. Aboriginal people hunt the goanna by following its tracks in the sand. The Goanna and its eggs are a principal food source (bush tucker).

(There are various symbols depicting the goanna track, depending on the artist's region)

alt

These symbols rockhole, cloud or nest are depicted in Australian Aboriginal artwork. They can have multiple meanings depending on the artist's Dreaming.

alt

This icon represents meeting place (concentric circles) and journey path (lines) . The meeting place is culturally a significant site to Aboriginal men and women.

It is a place where Aboriginal people meet, gather around, sitting in circles.


For more information and symbols:

http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-symbols-glossary/aboriginal-symbols-and-their-meanings/


alt

qantas@qantas - Aboriginal Art and Studies: A 'Community News' initiative.

More posts on Aboriginal Art and Culture to come dependent on Community interest.

Aboriginal Symbols and their Meanings | Ecency