Tupinambá
The Tupinambá were an indigenous people who once lived on the coast of Brazil and spoke Tupi . The early modern authors ascribed habitual and ritual cannibalism to them. One of their settlements has been handed down on the basis of a map from around 1800 near São Luís .
The Tupinambá were severely decimated by diseases introduced by the Europeans and by direct violence. The remnants of the people were soon absorbed by the Brazilian mongrel population, although their language was widely used as lingua geral . There is still a small group in Bahia that claims to be descended from the Tupinambá, such as the Tupinambás de Olivença .
Hans Staden's report of his imprisonment from January to October 1554 with the Tupinambá became famous . Even Jean de Léry came in the period from March 1557 until January 1558 Contact with this indigenous tribe and reported it.
In the Tupinambá faith, the demon of thunder and lightning Tupan played a special role, although it was not directly worshiped. He was the youngest son of the hero and culture bringer Nanderevusu and his wife Nandecy and was presented as a short, plump man with wavy hair.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ This accusation is vehemently denied by some researchers, but Hans Staden's report appears to others quite credible.
- ^ A b True History and Description of a Country in America, whose Inhabitants are Savage, Naked, Very Godless and Cruel Man-Eaters . World Digital Library. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
- ↑ Map of Maranhão, City of São Luís do Maranhão . World Digital Library. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ^ Robert Graves (introduction): New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. Crescent Books, New York 1987, p. 178