Socio-Semiotic Variations of Sun and Moon Symbolism Among the Panoan Peoples

This article analyzes and contrasts the socio-semiotic modeling patterns of Sun and Moon that encode the denoted meanings and social representations of the principal heavenly bodies among the ethnic groups of the Panoan linguistic family. The study of these symbolic motifs constitutes a way of appro...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Moulian Tesmer, Rodrigo, Fleck Zuazo, David William
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2023
Country:Perú
Institution:Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Repository:Revistas - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Language:Spanish
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/26578
Online Access:http://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/index.php/anthropologica/article/view/26578
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Sociosemiotics
Sun
Moon
Symbolism
Panoan
Sociosemitica
Sol
Luna
Simbolismo
Pano
Description
Summary:This article analyzes and contrasts the socio-semiotic modeling patterns of Sun and Moon that encode the denoted meanings and social representations of the principal heavenly bodies among the ethnic groups of the Panoan linguistic family. The study of these symbolic motifs constitutes a way of approaching Panoans’ cultural field that offers insights into its internal configuration and external relations. The research strategyapplied is the case study. The units of analysis are the patterns of primary or linguistic and secondary or discursive modeling of Sun and Moon. The data show linguistic homogeneity but discursive heterogeneity. The registerof representations reveals the coexistence of a diversity of conceptions ofSun and Moon in ontological terms, gender, and relationship modalities assigned to these entities. Within the framework of its system of variants and transformations, two predominant ethnomodels can be distinguished inPanoan groups from certain geographical areas, which present important cross-cultural correlates: Sun as a creator divinity and Moon as an ancestor turned heavenly body. The former is related to the Andean conceptions of Sun, while the latter has been widely recorded in the mythologies of the Amazonian peoples, revealing a system of transductions that inform of its ancient roots.