The Dark Arts: Mississippian Dramatic Delusions and Theatrical Illusions

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Magic, Spirits, Shamanism, and Trance" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Demonstrating one’s spiritual power through dramatic theatrics, based on deceptions and illusions, has long been the purview of ritual practitioners in their efforts to gain, legitimize, and maintain political and social advantages. Exclusive and secretive ritual sodalities, which often form the institutional framework for corporate-based magical practice, is evident throughout Indigenous North America—sharing many similarities, especially miraculous performances that defy the laws of nature. Magical practice as a way for ruling elites to garner authority and wealth has been overlooked by scholars investigating the Mississippian world. In this paper I focus attention on Mississippian Hero Twins imagery, mound portals, and symbolic weaponry to argue ritual theatrics bolstered aristocratic privilege through awe and fear. Magical practice, including conjuration, legerdemain, and prognostication, has deep roots into the ancient past as revealed in the archaeological record, ethnohistoric accounts, and iconographic images.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Magic, Spirits, Shamanism, and Trance   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38455.0