Southeastern Ceremonial Complex - Cosmology - Birdman

Birdman

The falcon is one of the most conspicuous symbols of the S.E.C.C. It was simultaneously an avatar of warriors and an object of supplication for a lengthy life, healthy family, and a long line of descendants. Its supernatural origin is placed in the Upper World with a pantheon including the Sun, Moon, and Four Stars.

At Cahokia, the falcon imagery was elaborated in figural expression. It is associated with warfare, high stakes gaming, and possibly family dynastic ambitions, symbolized by arrow flights and the rising of the pre-dawn morning star as metaphors for the succession of descendants into the future. Raptor imagery gained prominence during the Hopewell period, but attained its peak in the Braden Style of the early Mississippian period. It survived afterward in the Red Horn mythological cycle and native religion of the Ho-Chunk (Winnebagos), Osage, Ioway, and other plains Siouan peoples. In the Braden Style, the Birdman is divided into four categories.

• Late Braden style Falcon dancer with wings-Mound C, Etowah

• Classic Braden style warrior with wings-Mound C, Etowah

• Club-wielding wingless warrior-Castalian Springs shell engraving

• Chunkey player

• Falcon Dancers with wings.
• Chunkey players / warriors with wings.
• Club-wielding wingless warriors.
• Dancing wingless warriors / chunkey players

Various motifs are associated with the Birdman, including the forked eye motif, columnella pendants, mace or club weapons, severed heads, chunkey play (including chunkey stones, striped and broken chunkey sticks), bellows-shaped aprons, and bi-lobed arrow motifs.