Namarnde spirit painting at Nanguluwurr Aboriginal rock art site, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

Namarnde spirit painting at Nanguluwurr Aboriginal rock art site—a 2.2-mile round trip walk in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. On the Arnhem Land plateau in the Top End of Australia, Aboriginal stories tell of the First People or Nayuhyungki who created the world and gave future generation laws to live by. Some took on human forms, others changed from humans to animals. All have special powers. Namarnde spirits are a type of Nayuhyungki who live in caves and hollow trees, come out at night, and are invisible to ordinary people. At Nanguluwurr art site, the Namarnde spirits are painted with elongated toes and nipples. Some have six fingers on each hand and carry dilly bags for the victim's liver, lungs, heart and kidneys.

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Filename: 23AUS-4923.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 5292x3528 / 8.0MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Art Work art history past pattern
Contained in galleries: AUSTRALIA: NORTHERN TERRITORY, 2023 Apr: AUSTRALIA + INDONESIA

Namarnde spirit painting at Nanguluwurr Aboriginal rock art site—a 2.2-mile round trip walk in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. On the Arnhem Land plateau in the Top End of Australia, Aboriginal stories tell of the First People or Nayuhyungki who created the world and gave future generation laws to live by. Some took on human forms, others changed from humans to animals. All have special powers. Namarnde spirits are a type of Nayuhyungki who live in caves and hollow trees, come out at night, and are invisible to ordinary people. At Nanguluwurr art site, the Namarnde spirits are painted with elongated toes and nipples. Some have six fingers on each hand and carry dilly bags for the victim's liver, lungs, heart and kidneys.