2018/12/17 by Frank Simons · 3 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Eurasian Exchange Networks #Linguistics and language evolution #Linguistics and Cultural Studies #Character (mathematics) #Identity (music) #Philosophy #Art #Literature #History #Aesthetics
paper · doi:10.3917/assy.112.0123
openalex publication_date 2018/12/17 · openalex created_date 2019/02/21 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
This article examines the identity and character of the deity dkù-sù. Kusu has been variously understood in the scholarly literature as the name of two deities, a god and a goddess, and as either a single god or goddess. It is argued here that, in almost every case, Kusu is a single figure –a grain and purification goddess. It is further argued that her association with the nignakku-censer only very rarely identifies her as the censer. In the vast majority of cases, the censer should be understood simply as one of several objects which Kusu uses in her role as purifier.