Sampari
Biak Numfor · numen · Biak Numfor traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
The Morning Star, called sampari in Biak, is the celestial being whom Manarmakeri captured as it descended at dawn to drink the stolen palm-wine. Ransoming its freedom, the star revealed the secret of eternal life and abundance and furnished the wonder-staff and the fruit through which Manarmakeri would beget his son. As the herald of the Koreri dawn the Morning Star became the foremost emblem of Biak messianic expectation, and the same star lends its name to the Papuan 'Morning Star' (Bintang Kejora) banner. Sources record its role consistently while differing on whether it was imagined as male, female or sexless.
Domains
- dawn and stars
- secret knowledge
Powers
- discloses the secret of eternal life
- heralds the dawn
Relations
- ally: ManarmakeriCaptured while stealing his palm-wine, the star becomes Manarmakeri's supernatural benefactor.Kamma, F. C. (1972). Koreri: Messianic Movements in the Biak-Numfor Culture Area. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, pp. 15-25. (secondary)
Sources
- The Morning Star (Biak sampari) is the celestial being whom Manarmakeri captured and from whom he ransomed the secret of Koreri; it is the pre-eminent emblem of Biak messianic hope.: Kamma, F. C. (1972). Koreri: Messianic Movements in the Biak-Numfor Culture Area. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, pp. 15-25. (secondary); Sharp, N., with Kaisiepo, M. (1994). The Morning Star in Papua Barat. North Carlton: Arena. (secondary)