Religion, myths and rites

Religion, myths and rites







First settlers of the island of Santo Domingo

Diet

Housing and pottery

Social stratification

Political Division

Family and succession

Religion, myths and rites


 

Their beliefs, myths and past were passed down orally through danced songs called areítos, in which a principal person recited the stories, and a chorus, composed of women, men or mixed, repeated them more loudly.


One of their myths related how the sun and the moon emerged from a cave named Jovovava; while another told of how the sea was created upon breaking a squash.


They performed religious rites in order to cure the sick.  Before proceeding with the treatment, the behpiques inhaled tobacco and cohoba, an herb, to vomit and purify themselves, and to put themselves in contact with the cemí or god that would then tell them what to do.


 


 


 


 

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