Carnevale in Sardegna Sos Mammutzones de Samugheo

At Samugheo this strange elf is called 'Maimone'. It should be remembered that the people of Samugheo call their masked figure 'Mamutzones', not to be confused with the 'mamuthones' of Ottana which are a paradigmatic variable of the same cult. It is also probable that this cult was loaned from Mamioada by the same inhabitants of Samugho. Another meaning of 'Maimone' is Maimòni, which in the Campidano dialect refers to the candlestick. The head of the post of the candlestick was shaped in the form of a monkey and this is where the link between the archetype of the candlestick and Maimòne originates. In some places in Sardinia up until a few years ago it was the custom to use sticks to thrash the rocks alongside rivers to stimulate the spirits of fertility. Even the stamping of the mamuthones with their cowbells may have the function of inducing rain, as well as the apotropaic function of chasing away evil or the enemy. A semantic and linguistic relationship between "mamuthones" and "maumone" was already suggested in the 50s by some researchers:'The etymology of the word "Mamuthone" has obscure ancient origins. Among the various hypotheses* we would like to believe that it derives from Maimone, a type of demon or Bacchic idol* of the barbaricina mythology. The Mamuthone is more than* just a mask-character, it has something both austere as well as tragic.'

Channel: Travel & Events
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: loybillyrock

Length: 04:06
Rating: 4.69
Views: 1162

Tags: carnival  maimones  mammuthones  mammutzones  sardegna  sardinien  

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