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Description

Warrior dance knife, or baton in the form of Sisiutl. A flat downward curved wood piece with a central frontal head and a profile head on either side. The two side profile heads have long upward curving protruding tongues. Painted red, black, and green. There is a metal hook on top of both side heads.

History Of Use

Assistant to Winalagilis, the war spirit, this mythological creature was dangerous, powerful, and impervious to human weaponry. Sisiutl always appears with two serpent-like heads at each end of the body, which is represented by a face. Carried as a wand by the War dancer. Could also have descended from the ceiling on invisible strings during the War Dance (M. Bronsden).

Iconographic Meaning

Sisiutl was a double-headed serpent or lightning snake who was an assistant to Winalagalis, the War Spirit.

Item History

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