SOMA AND THE QUIMBAYAS: A CULT OF FROGS AND MUSHROOMS IN PREHISPANIC COLOMBIA
SOMA AND THE QUIMBAYAS: A CULT OF FROGS AND MUSHROOMS IN
PREHISPANIC COLOMBIA
by JUAN CAMILO RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ
“But first it would be helpful to point out that magic mushrooms contain 4-PO-DMT
(Psilocybin) and when ingested this is converted into the pharmacologically active 4-HO-DMT
(Psilocin).”
– DMT & MY OCCULT MIND. INVESTIGATION OF OCCULT REALITIES USING THE SPIRIT MOLECULE
Dick Khan
“While psilocybin-containing mushrooms were not brought to the greater attention of the
Western world until the publication of the Wassons’ ground-breaking article in Life
Magazine in 1957, it is our strong suspicion that these phenomenal fungi may well have
been known to certain secretive circles long prior.”
– ALCHEMICALLY STONED: THE PSYCHEDELIC SECRET OF FREEMASONRY
PD Newman
“La tribu quimbaya, famosa por su orfebreria y , según algunos arqueologos, maestra en
este arte en América, habitaba las vertientes occidentales de la Cordillera Central que
descienden al rio Cauca, en el sector encerrado al sur por la quebrada de los Micos, y el
río Guacayca al norte. El Río Cauca constituía el límite natural por el occidente, mientras
que la alta Cordillera Central formaba el limite oriental.”
– LOS QUIMBAYAS BAJO LA DOMINACIÓN ESPAÑOLA
Juan Friede
To Dick Khan and P. D. NEWMAN!!!
START
The Mystery around the indigenous tribe the Quimbayas that lived in prehispanic Colombia is deep. It has not been resolved. Systematically exterminated by the spanish crown there is not many information left of them. There is no knowledge around their mythology and the gods they worshipped are unknown. The books and researchs in libraries are few compared to other colombian indigenous tribes.
In the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) in Bogotá there are some pieces that are testimonies of their past. Also in the Museo Arqueológico (Museum of Archaeology) de Bogota there are more clues to be found. Both museums located in the downtown of Bogota.
Bogota is the capital city of Colombia.
In Spain the Quimbaya Treasure waits to be visited and this will bring new insights around the subject.
This document is the third part of what was started with SOMA AND THE MUISCAS: THE COLOMBIAN MUSHROOM CULTS and its follow-up SOMA AND THE TAYRONAS: A MUSHROOM, FLEUR DE LIS, BAT CULT IN A PREHISPANIC INDIGENOUS TRIBE OF COLOMBIA IN SOUTH AMERICA.
The first ones to suggest a mushroom cult between the Quimbayas where Schultes and Bright in their pioneering paper: ANCIENT GOLD PECTORALS OF COLOMBIA. MUSHROOM EFFIGIES?
New observations around the subject reassure the ideas exposed by Schultes and Bright.
1. TWO QUIMBAYA PIECES IN THE MUSEO ARQUEOLOGICO (MUSA)
In Bogota downtown is located the Museo Arqueologico MUSA (Museum of Arqueology). Very near the Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar Square). The Museum is housed in the what was the house of the San Jorge Marquis. A popular well known character of the aristocracy of Bogota from XIII century. The place is fabulous and you are instantly transported to another dimension not only by the museum collection but also because of the beautiful architecture.
The ceremic prehispanic collection is unique. The beauty of the pieces captures the visitor of the museum instantly. The Quimbaya section is not that big but two pieces attract their attention regarding the subject of this paper and suggest a magic mushroom usage by the legendary Quimbayas.
(Figure 1)
The first analized piece shows what it seems to be a little man crowned with a mushroom head. I dont know the functional use of this pieces but I suspect they where used to print patterns and ornaments in the blankets and other textile confections manufactured by the Quimbayas. Their artistic creations where very famous and in a moment their prices and quality exceeded the Muisca ones.
(Figure 2)
The second Quimbaya piece we analize consists in ornaments that suggest mushrooms and patterns that suggest the visions obtained under the effects of magic mushrooms. It looks like some kind of eal.
This pieces are fundamental as clues regarding a mushroom cult probably practiced by the Quimbayas.
2. THE FROG GODDESS OF THE QUIMBAYAS
There is little known around the Quimbayas. I suspect they adored a Goddess. It was the principal deity in the Quimbaya pantheon and I suspect It was also a frog. Amanita muscaria researcher Clark Heinrich, suggest, that the emblematic Quimbaya poporo represents a frog.
The collection of the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) was initiated with this particular piece. it was found near the vecinity of Yarumal in Antioquia. Its the foundational piece of the Museo del Oro.
The poporo is a recipient that serves to store the lime that is used in the coca leaves chewing practice potentizing its effects. This device is still in use by actual indigenous tribes and is a practice that goes back to ancient prehispanic tribes.
I think Clark Heinrich is right. The piece is representing a frog. The same moon and also the female fertility deity adored by the ancient Quimbayas. To this goddess where consacrated the coca leaves and the mushrooms. Probably all kinds of entheogens to make spiritual connections with the deity.
The use of substances segregated by frogs and toads as entheogens by prehispanic indigenous tribes in America also could had been related to the cult of this frog goddess. This is just a suggestion and in no ways pretends to be the final word around the subject. More research must be done.
Also a popular name to the Amanita muscaria mushroom is the toadstool. Frogs and toads like to hang around and sit on top of mushrooms. Very curious fact to note. A toadstool is a mushroom. The stool of a toad.
A fertility cult simbolized by a frog goddess in which entheogens like coca leaves and mushrooms where used could had been put to the practice by the Quimbayas. The use of toads and frogs that exudate DMT containing toxins must not be discarded also.
(Figure 3) (Figure 4)
In the Quimbaya section on the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) there are lots of pieces that deserve the attention of this case because they represent frogs. Frogs are associated with water. Lagoons, rivers, and lakes are places where they can be found. They salute the sun all mornings.
(Figure 5) (Figure 6) (Figure 7)
Humidity of hot thermal floors is a favorable place to find this fantastical animals but they also can be found in cold environments.
In the ancient egyptian mythology we found the frog goddess named Heket. She was associated with fertility and waters. Sometimes she was portrayed as a frog or as woman with the head of a frog. this mysterious egyptian deity was in charge to infuse the breath of life to the newly born egyptian babies. Pregant woman worshipped her and deliveries where in her hands also.
The Quimbayas pieces that the reader can see next are very curious. They are frogs. When you turn them upside down they look like mushrooms and moons. Also they remember the Amanita muscaria mushroom and the Fleur-the-lis.
Its a beautiful relation of the Moon and mushrooms that deserves consideration in the theme that is been studied in the present paper. All connected with a fertility frog goddess.
Anyway, I think the Quimbayas used mushrooms of the Psilocybe type but this is not the last word.
A cult to a frog goddess, involving mushrooms and other kinds of entheogens its what it seems had been practiced by ancient Quimbayas.
(Figure 8) (Figure 9)
One last observation. When you turn upside-down the classic Quimbaya poporo a mushroom can be seen.
(Figure 10)
3. A SACRAMENTAL VESSEL
In the Quimbaya section on the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold), there is a piece that deserves all the attention of the case. Its a ceramic work exposed to the museum visitors that when you watch it with delight it can give us more clues around a mushroom cult practiced by the Quimbayas.
(Figure 11) (Figure 12) (Figure 13)
The ornaments of the piece suggest stylized mushrooms. I suspect this vessel was used in one of the religious ceremonies practiced by the Quimbayas. Probably the magic mushrooms where served in this recipient before their consumption.
4. A MYSTERIOUS POPORO AND THE QUIMBAYA TREASURE IN SPAIN
(Figure 14) (Figure 15)
I really dont know in which museum or private collection is this piece guarded. I think it belongs from the Early Period of the Quimbayas. The image is so obvious it does not need explanation. A shaman holding a mushroom in each one of his hands on a complete entheogenic trance is what is represented on this poporo.
The pieces is Quimbaya.
The great mushroom researcher Carl de Borhegyi had suggested before that this piece suggest a mushroom cult. I agree with Borhegyi. I only differ from Borhegyi that the mushrooms that the shaman is holding belong to the Psilocybe genus and is not Amanita muscaria.
Its important to note before finishing this paper that in the Museo de América (Museum of America) in Madrid is located the Quimbaya Treasure. A magnificent collection that was given from the colombian government to the spanish crown because of a conflict of borders with Venezuela in which the spanish intervention was definitive to put an end to the struggle.
That happened a long time ago.
In this collection are pieces than can give as new insights around the case that is being studied in the present paper.
(Figure 16)
The piece of the middle remembers the poporo already described on the beggining of the present chapter.
The difference is in the representation of the mushrooms. On the first piece the mushrooms are evident. In the second piece the mushrooms are stylized and abstracted.
This stilyzation remembers the Tayrona Mushroom-Bat shamans and the Tayrona artistic process.
(Figure 17)
It can be concluded that the Quimbayas knew the secrets regarding sacred mushrooms.
THE END
Special thanks to Jose Beltran and his invaluable help and guidance on my visit to the Museo Arqueologico (Museum of Archaeology) in Bogotá, Colombia.
In one way or another that made possible this paper.
Originally published in spanish in March 2018.
https://somaylosquimbayas.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/soma-y-los-quimbayas/
PREHISPANIC COLOMBIA
by JUAN CAMILO RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ
“But first it would be helpful to point out that magic mushrooms contain 4-PO-DMT
(Psilocybin) and when ingested this is converted into the pharmacologically active 4-HO-DMT
(Psilocin).”
– DMT & MY OCCULT MIND. INVESTIGATION OF OCCULT REALITIES USING THE SPIRIT MOLECULE
Dick Khan
“While psilocybin-containing mushrooms were not brought to the greater attention of the
Western world until the publication of the Wassons’ ground-breaking article in Life
Magazine in 1957, it is our strong suspicion that these phenomenal fungi may well have
been known to certain secretive circles long prior.”
– ALCHEMICALLY STONED: THE PSYCHEDELIC SECRET OF FREEMASONRY
PD Newman
“La tribu quimbaya, famosa por su orfebreria y , según algunos arqueologos, maestra en
este arte en América, habitaba las vertientes occidentales de la Cordillera Central que
descienden al rio Cauca, en el sector encerrado al sur por la quebrada de los Micos, y el
río Guacayca al norte. El Río Cauca constituía el límite natural por el occidente, mientras
que la alta Cordillera Central formaba el limite oriental.”
– LOS QUIMBAYAS BAJO LA DOMINACIÓN ESPAÑOLA
Juan Friede
To Dick Khan and P. D. NEWMAN!!!
START
The Mystery around the indigenous tribe the Quimbayas that lived in prehispanic Colombia is deep. It has not been resolved. Systematically exterminated by the spanish crown there is not many information left of them. There is no knowledge around their mythology and the gods they worshipped are unknown. The books and researchs in libraries are few compared to other colombian indigenous tribes.
In the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) in Bogotá there are some pieces that are testimonies of their past. Also in the Museo Arqueológico (Museum of Archaeology) de Bogota there are more clues to be found. Both museums located in the downtown of Bogota.
Bogota is the capital city of Colombia.
In Spain the Quimbaya Treasure waits to be visited and this will bring new insights around the subject.
This document is the third part of what was started with SOMA AND THE MUISCAS: THE COLOMBIAN MUSHROOM CULTS and its follow-up SOMA AND THE TAYRONAS: A MUSHROOM, FLEUR DE LIS, BAT CULT IN A PREHISPANIC INDIGENOUS TRIBE OF COLOMBIA IN SOUTH AMERICA.
The first ones to suggest a mushroom cult between the Quimbayas where Schultes and Bright in their pioneering paper: ANCIENT GOLD PECTORALS OF COLOMBIA. MUSHROOM EFFIGIES?
New observations around the subject reassure the ideas exposed by Schultes and Bright.
1. TWO QUIMBAYA PIECES IN THE MUSEO ARQUEOLOGICO (MUSA)
In Bogota downtown is located the Museo Arqueologico MUSA (Museum of Arqueology). Very near the Plaza de Bolivar (Bolivar Square). The Museum is housed in the what was the house of the San Jorge Marquis. A popular well known character of the aristocracy of Bogota from XIII century. The place is fabulous and you are instantly transported to another dimension not only by the museum collection but also because of the beautiful architecture.
The ceremic prehispanic collection is unique. The beauty of the pieces captures the visitor of the museum instantly. The Quimbaya section is not that big but two pieces attract their attention regarding the subject of this paper and suggest a magic mushroom usage by the legendary Quimbayas.
The first analized piece shows what it seems to be a little man crowned with a mushroom head. I dont know the functional use of this pieces but I suspect they where used to print patterns and ornaments in the blankets and other textile confections manufactured by the Quimbayas. Their artistic creations where very famous and in a moment their prices and quality exceeded the Muisca ones.
(Figure 2)
The second Quimbaya piece we analize consists in ornaments that suggest mushrooms and patterns that suggest the visions obtained under the effects of magic mushrooms. It looks like some kind of eal.
This pieces are fundamental as clues regarding a mushroom cult probably practiced by the Quimbayas.
2. THE FROG GODDESS OF THE QUIMBAYAS
There is little known around the Quimbayas. I suspect they adored a Goddess. It was the principal deity in the Quimbaya pantheon and I suspect It was also a frog. Amanita muscaria researcher Clark Heinrich, suggest, that the emblematic Quimbaya poporo represents a frog.
The collection of the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) was initiated with this particular piece. it was found near the vecinity of Yarumal in Antioquia. Its the foundational piece of the Museo del Oro.
The poporo is a recipient that serves to store the lime that is used in the coca leaves chewing practice potentizing its effects. This device is still in use by actual indigenous tribes and is a practice that goes back to ancient prehispanic tribes.
I think Clark Heinrich is right. The piece is representing a frog. The same moon and also the female fertility deity adored by the ancient Quimbayas. To this goddess where consacrated the coca leaves and the mushrooms. Probably all kinds of entheogens to make spiritual connections with the deity.
The use of substances segregated by frogs and toads as entheogens by prehispanic indigenous tribes in America also could had been related to the cult of this frog goddess. This is just a suggestion and in no ways pretends to be the final word around the subject. More research must be done.
Also a popular name to the Amanita muscaria mushroom is the toadstool. Frogs and toads like to hang around and sit on top of mushrooms. Very curious fact to note. A toadstool is a mushroom. The stool of a toad.
A fertility cult simbolized by a frog goddess in which entheogens like coca leaves and mushrooms where used could had been put to the practice by the Quimbayas. The use of toads and frogs that exudate DMT containing toxins must not be discarded also.
(Figure 3) (Figure 4)
In the Quimbaya section on the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold) there are lots of pieces that deserve the attention of this case because they represent frogs. Frogs are associated with water. Lagoons, rivers, and lakes are places where they can be found. They salute the sun all mornings.
Humidity of hot thermal floors is a favorable place to find this fantastical animals but they also can be found in cold environments.
In the ancient egyptian mythology we found the frog goddess named Heket. She was associated with fertility and waters. Sometimes she was portrayed as a frog or as woman with the head of a frog. this mysterious egyptian deity was in charge to infuse the breath of life to the newly born egyptian babies. Pregant woman worshipped her and deliveries where in her hands also.
The Quimbayas pieces that the reader can see next are very curious. They are frogs. When you turn them upside down they look like mushrooms and moons. Also they remember the Amanita muscaria mushroom and the Fleur-the-lis.
Its a beautiful relation of the Moon and mushrooms that deserves consideration in the theme that is been studied in the present paper. All connected with a fertility frog goddess.
Anyway, I think the Quimbayas used mushrooms of the Psilocybe type but this is not the last word.
A cult to a frog goddess, involving mushrooms and other kinds of entheogens its what it seems had been practiced by ancient Quimbayas.
(Figure 8) (Figure 9)
One last observation. When you turn upside-down the classic Quimbaya poporo a mushroom can be seen.
(Figure 10)
3. A SACRAMENTAL VESSEL
In the Quimbaya section on the Museo del Oro (Museum of Gold), there is a piece that deserves all the attention of the case. Its a ceramic work exposed to the museum visitors that when you watch it with delight it can give us more clues around a mushroom cult practiced by the Quimbayas.
(Figure 11) (Figure 12) (Figure 13)
The ornaments of the piece suggest stylized mushrooms. I suspect this vessel was used in one of the religious ceremonies practiced by the Quimbayas. Probably the magic mushrooms where served in this recipient before their consumption.
I really dont know in which museum or private collection is this piece guarded. I think it belongs from the Early Period of the Quimbayas. The image is so obvious it does not need explanation. A shaman holding a mushroom in each one of his hands on a complete entheogenic trance is what is represented on this poporo.
The pieces is Quimbaya.
The great mushroom researcher Carl de Borhegyi had suggested before that this piece suggest a mushroom cult. I agree with Borhegyi. I only differ from Borhegyi that the mushrooms that the shaman is holding belong to the Psilocybe genus and is not Amanita muscaria.
Its important to note before finishing this paper that in the Museo de América (Museum of America) in Madrid is located the Quimbaya Treasure. A magnificent collection that was given from the colombian government to the spanish crown because of a conflict of borders with Venezuela in which the spanish intervention was definitive to put an end to the struggle.
That happened a long time ago.
In this collection are pieces than can give as new insights around the case that is being studied in the present paper.
(Figure 16)
The piece of the middle remembers the poporo already described on the beggining of the present chapter.
The difference is in the representation of the mushrooms. On the first piece the mushrooms are evident. In the second piece the mushrooms are stylized and abstracted.
This stilyzation remembers the Tayrona Mushroom-Bat shamans and the Tayrona artistic process.
(Figure 17)
It can be concluded that the Quimbayas knew the secrets regarding sacred mushrooms.
THE END
Special thanks to Jose Beltran and his invaluable help and guidance on my visit to the Museo Arqueologico (Museum of Archaeology) in Bogotá, Colombia.
In one way or another that made possible this paper.
Originally published in spanish in March 2018.
https://somaylosquimbayas.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/soma-y-los-quimbayas/
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