What Do Designs on Pre-colonial Gold Say? | In Focus: Gold Pectoral Discs & Belt Buckles

Summary

The Ayala Museum collection in the Philippines showcases ancient gold artifacts symbolizing social prestige among pre-colonial societies. Notable is a pectoral disc from Butuan, Agusan Norte, featuring four mythical birds and a 14-petalled flower, suggesting early cosmological beliefs. A similar design on belt buckles replaces aquatic animals with trees and florets. The Visayan genesis myth illustrates the cultural association of the sky and sea with creation, where a bird's interaction with these elements led to the birth of islands.

Takeaways

• 🏵️ Gold artifacts in the Philippines are among the earliest evidence of pre-colonial societies.
• 💫 Gold was a symbol of social prestige and power among ancient Filipinos.
• 🔗 Elite individuals wore gold chains and leg ornaments to signify their status.
• 🎨 The Ayala Museum collection showcases early cosmological designs in gold artifacts.
• 🕰️ A pectoral disc from Butuan, Agusan Norte, dates back to the 9th to 13th century, featuring cosmological symbolism.
• 🔄 The disc's central motif is a 14-petalled flower encircled by a cruciform, representing cardinal directions.
• 🐦 Four mythical birds are depicted on the disc, alternating with aquatic animals, symbolizing the sky and sea.
• 🌿 A variation of the design features trees and florets instead of aquatic animals, suggesting a connection to nature.
• 🌊 Traditional stories link the sky and sea to primordial origins, as seen in the Visayan genesis myth.
• 🗝️ The myth narrates the creation of islands through the interaction between a mythical bird, the sky, and the sea.

Q & A

What is the significance of gold in ancient Filipino societies?

In ancient Filipino societies, gold was a symbol of social prestige. Elite individuals wore gold chains and ornaments to display prominence and power.

Where is the Ayala Museum located?

The Ayala Museum is located in the Philippines, as indicated by the collection of gold objects mentioned in the transcript.

What is the origin of the pectoral disc found in Butuan, Agusan Norte?

The pectoral disc found in Butuan, Agusan Norte, dates from the 9th to 13th century and is part of the Ayala Museum's collection.

What does the central motif of the pectoral disc resemble?

The central motif of the pectoral disc resembles a 14-petalled flower.

What is the significance of the large cruciform on the pectoral disc?

The large cruciform on the pectoral disc has its four arms oriented toward the four directions, suggesting a cosmological design.

How are the mythical birds depicted on the pectoral disc?

The mythical birds are depicted alternating with aquatic animals in each direction of the cruciform on the pectoral disc.

What is the variation of the design seen on the belt buckles from the same region?

The variation of the design on the belt buckles features trees and florets alternating with the four mythical birds around a six-petalled flower.

What is the connection between the sky and sea in traditional stories among various indigenous groups?

In traditional stories among various indigenous groups, the sky and sea are often associated with primordial origins.

What is the Visayan genesis myth about?

The Visayan genesis myth narrates the creation of the islands as a result of a mythical bird encouraging the sea to reach for the sky, leading to the sky retaliating by hurling rocks to keep the waters down.

How do the gold objects from the Ayala Museum's collection reflect the ancient Filipinos' beliefs?

The gold objects from the Ayala Museum's collection reflect the ancient Filipinos' beliefs through cosmological designs, such as the representation of the sky, sea, and mythical creatures, which are deeply rooted in their culture.

What does the presence of aquatic animals and trees on the gold objects suggest about the ancient Filipinos' environment?

The presence of aquatic animals and trees on the gold objects suggests that the ancient Filipinos lived in an environment rich in marine and plant life, which played a significant role in their culture and mythology.