Quick! I Needs Me Some Symbolism!

[roguerouge]

Okay... Krissbeth out!


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Okay. I need a holy symbol for an understandably minor god of cannibalism. Any ideas for what one would look like? Or links to existing images that would work?

 

[shilsen]

An open, fanged mouth?

 

[Stormborn]

A chain or circle of well gnawed bones - representing the connection of one life to the next that cannibalism insures.

 

[sjmiller]

How about any of the following:

• A broken human femur
• A skull with the top obviously missing.
• An X made of two bones.
• A carving or butcher knife.

There are some actual cannibal tribes in the world which, I imagine, have some form of religous symbolism with respect to ritual cannibalism. Try using "Ritual Cannibal Symbol" in your favorite search engine.

 

[roguerouge]

Try using "Ritual Cannibal Symbol" in your favorite search engine.

Ironically, the first page of the Google images results include a shot of Christ on the cross, a world peace symbol, a cross burning, several metal sites, and a guitarist's myspace page.

Actually, I don't think "ironically" covers it.

 

[rossik]

maybe this can help..or not


http://maat.sofiatopia.org/cannibal.htm

 

[doubleplusgood]

A stewpot with a human hand reaching out?

 

[billd91]

Why does the group engage in cannibalism? Is it used partly as a ritual to keep the knowledge of ancestors within the community? Is it because they have shocking low other protein resources? Or is it because they're bastards? Getting at the motivation for the cannibalism can help you pick the right symbolic connotation.

If it's for ancestor knowledge/worship reasons, I'd have the holy symbol be the actual skull of one of their own ancestory, dressed up with precious stones and other decoration.
If it's for pure badassery, I'd go with a broken thigh bone.

 

[roguerouge]

We're going for a minor demon lord who covers cannibalism in all its connotations, but regards the non-badassery reasons as stupid human tricks. The particular bearer of the holy symbol, however, is an evil orc druid from Salvage Operation (in Dungeon 123?).

 

[Tonguez]

An open, fanged mouth?

Historically my own people were proud cannibals and the symbolism they used was indeed "An open, fanged mouth". Tiki images with open fanged mouths were considered to be protective guardian emblems and the term translating as "Man-Eater' was even given to high ranking 'priests' (look up the use of the term "Ai kanaka" in Hawaiian)

Interestingly when the missionaries came to the area one of the local village here had such a carved tiki prominently displayed which showed a human body within the carvings open fanged mouth. The missionaries refused to go there until it was removed (it was removed and apparently buried or burnt depending on who you ask)

I also have a cousin (third cousin actually) who owns a necklace of human teeth (an heirloom currently on loan to the national museum) such a necklace could easily serve as a divine focus for the diety