Accessories in mythologies often carry deep symbolic meanings, representing the deity’s roles, attributes, or powers. They can be literal objects or metaphorical symbols that convey complex ideas about the cosmos, morality, and human nature.
It is common to see the Hopi Snake Clan’s Saviki, (a supernatural entity and divine messenger) carrying a square handbag as part of the snake ceremony. Most people consider this bag to be a medicine bag and it may well be. However, there is evidence that ancient cultures carried a similar bag that had the ability to produce water and often held corn seeds. It is said that when planted, these special seeds could produce crops that were able to be harvested in one day, thus supplying food for long migrations. As extraordinary as this may seem, if we think about it, there are today, electric generators, that can pull moisture from the air and produce water. Was this technology previously available to the ancients and was divine intervention responsible for the holy corn? Remember that the famous horticulturist, Luther Burbank was able to ‘convince’ fruit trees and other plants to produce increased harvests with seemingly magical rapidity. In fact, Paramahansa Yogananda, founder of Self-Realization Fellowship, dedicated his famous book, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, to Luther Burbank and he often referred to his friend as “a saint amid the roses.”
The Inca tribes of Peru were a migratory civilization with ancestral ties to North America. Over a period of 4000 years, they established colonies throughout the Andes, including the one at Lake Titicaca. Northern trade routes were established and many familial ties formed. Many believe that the Hopi Kachinas migrated from the south and took on the task of guiding the Hopi clans spiritually and materially. The water generators that they carried were described as metal plates encased in a portable tight metal box with a handle, that could produce about a quart of water per minute. Pretty handy to have around on a long perilous journey.
Of course, medicine and divination bags are common worldwide. In ancient Mesopotamian reliefs, figures (sometimes interpreted as gods or deities) are depicted carrying a peculiar handbag-like object. Scholars speculate these may symbolize containers of knowledge, life, or the secrets of the universe, reflecting the civilization’s values and understanding of divine authority. One such deity, Oannes, is credited with teaching some of the earliest foundations of civilization. His story also happens to be inter-twined with stories of a worldwide flood which destroyed civilization for a time. It is said that square-shaped tablets were buried with enough knowledge to assist the rise of civilization once it was safe to return to the earth’s surface. This idea agrees with the many emergence stories popular throughout the world.
In Greek mythology, Hermes (Mercury in Roman mythology), the messenger of the gods, carries a satchel or pouch used to carry messages, potions, or even souls to the underworld. This accessory underscores Hermes’ role as a bridge between different realms and his trickster aspects.
In present-day Southwestern Nigeria, the priests of the Yoruba religion often carry a similar divination bag. Much like medicine bags it symbolizes wisdom, knowledge of destiny, and the communication between the spiritual and material worlds, reflecting the profound cultural and religious importance of divination in Yoruba society.
However, it is the square bags with round handles that appear in many ancient carvings and reliefs. In addition, the cultures that frequently include these bags in their artwork are separated by vast amounts of time in places, such as Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. One theory is that these bags are instrumental in time travel, through interdimensional portals and vortexes.
Another theory, (which goes along with the previous Hopi discussion), that they were a type of ancient technology. For instance, the Mesoamerican god, Quetzalcoatl, is often depicted carrying the square version of the bag and is credited with teaching such skills as agriculture, engineering, laws, and religion.
In Assyria, the same square bag appears held by various entities, often near a ‘Tree of Life’, from which he/she has plucked a pinecone. In India at the Hindu temple of Brihadeeswarar, Shiva is carved with two square handbags hanging from a tree above and behind the supreme god. It is thought that these may be electrical batteries, which were hung rather than carried or placed on the ground to protect the portable energy source. In fact, in India, battery usage has been traced back at least 4000 years.
Another place to note is the Indonesian island of Sumba where Panji, a local ancient hero, is immortalized—carved in stone sitting next to guess what? —a square handbag with a curved handle. And the oldest place that the handbag image appears is in Gobekli Tepe in Turkey showing three handbags of the gods. The carvings found there have been dated back to 10,950 BCE, a time after the last ice age. Is it possible that the survivors of that cataclysmic time finally emerged from underground, carrying, what else? –handbags!
The intriguing motif of handbags carried by gods across various ancient cultures symbolizes not just the universality of human creativity but also a shared understanding of divinity and authority.
What’s in yours?
