The Saami shamanic drum in Rome
Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis 1987 DOI: 10.30674/scripta.67158 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key points | Argues that Saami drums were probably popular export objects in the 17th and 18th centuries, brought from Lappmark by missionaries and explorers and sold to collectors across Continental Europe, with some later reaching museums. The single drum in the L. Pigorini museum is the only Saami drum whose presence in Italy is certain, and the text contends that Mediterranean, particularly Italian, correspondence reflects interest in shamanism as the most illuminating manifestation of circumpolar culture and religion. |
Abstract
What is the history of the drum, which once arrived from the Saami area in northernmost Europe to the collections of an Italian museum, L. Pigorini museum? At the moment, it is the only Saami drum the existence of which is certain in Italy. Saami drums were probably popular objects of export in the 17th and 18th centuries. Missionaries and explorers brought dozens of drums from various parts of Lappmark to be sold and shipped to the private collections of noblemen and other interested people all over Continental Europe. Some of these drums later on found their way to the museums, many became lost or are still somewhere, to be traced by future investigations of local museums and private collections. There clearly has been a special interest towards the most northern corner of the European continent in the Mediterranean countries, particularly in Italy. The correspondence and other descriptions bear evidence about shamanism as the most illuminating and appealing manifestation of the ancient culture and religion of the exotic people living behind the circumpolar zone at the edge of the universe.