Muiraquitã is the name given to several types of ancient artifacts of indigenous Amazonian origin carved in jade/nephrite or wood, which represent, among other animals, frogs. Muiraquitãs are used as pendants, amulets and other decorative functions.
Description[]
Muiraquitã is a green stone carved in the shape of a frog, was used as an amulet by Tapajó women to prevent illness and prevent infertility. Their popularity spread through the Lower Amazon Basin and the Caribbean.
Legend[]
Legend has it that the amulet was offered as a gift by the female-only warriors, the Icamiabas, to all those who annually visited their camp on the Nhamundá River (near the Mirror of the Moon region). Once a year, during a ceremony dedicated to Jaci, the Icamiabas received the Guacari warriors with whom they had sex.
At midnight, they dove into the rivers and brought out a green clay, which they shaped into various shapes: frogs, turtles, and other animals, and presented to their loved ones. Removed from the riverbed while still soft and molded by the women, the clay hardened upon contact with the environment. In some versions Jací herself give the amulets to the warriors.
The objects were then threaded into brides' braids and worn as amulets by the warriors. To this day, the Muiraquitã is considered a sacred object, believed to bring happiness, luck, and cure almost all illnesses to its wearer.
The lesser known Legend of the Muiraquitã[]
According to the Uaupés people, on the Uaupés River, there was a lake where an elderly woman lived, the mother of the muiraquitã. One morning, she transformed into a snake and was killed by a man. The river immediately flooded, drowning the entire tribe, leaving only the elder's mark, the muiraquitã.
Symbolism and Properties of the Muiraquitã[]
The Muiraquitã is considered a symbol of fertility, protection, and power. It is believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity to its wearer. The carved figures, such as frogs and turtles, also have specific meanings: the frog, for example, is seen as a symbol of transformation and renewal due to its metamorphosis. Besides its cultural symbolism, the Muiraquitã is often associated with healing properties. Indigenous people believe it can relieve pain, cure illness, and protect against evil spirits.
Historical information[]
The Muiraquitã, a carved green frog-shaped stone, was used as an amulet by the Tapajós women to prevent disease and avoid infertility. Their popularity spread around the Lower Amazon Basin and through to the Caribbean, where Muiraquitãs from the Amazon state in Brazil were found. "They must have been an object of exchange among elites," says archaeologist Marcondes Lima da Costa, Federal University of Pará. Fashion reached Europe in the eighteenth century when these amulets were taken to the Old Continent. It was believed that they prevented epilepsy and kidney stones. Today they are rare pieces that reach high prices at auctions. The appearance of modern muiraquitãs is more angular, unlike those made in the past that had a phallic shape.
Modern Depictions[]
Television[]
- In the 2nd season of the Brazilian Netflix series "Invisible City", Eric's daughter, Luna, is seen wearing one on her necklace. It is implied that this was the key for her to unlock her abilities such as prophetic dreams with her father and for her to be allowed to enter Marangatu.
Gallery[]
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