Giant Initiator

Initiation-giant dema; the Sosom cult was analysed at length by Wirz and Van Baal. Some myths connect him to ritualized homosexuality in male initiation. Treated as deity.

Domains

• male initiation
• thunder

Powers

• drives off the women and initiates the young men

Epithets

• Sosom

Sources

• van Baal, Jan. Dema: Description and Analysis of Marind-anim Culture (1966)
• Wirz, Paul. Die Marind-anim von Holländisch-Süd-Neu-Guinea (1922–25)