Tembetá facts for kids
A tembetá (from the Guaraní language: tembé meaning lip, and Ita meaning stone) is a special rod made of metal or stone. It was worn in a piercing in the lower lip by some native groups in South America. People have used tembetás since ancient times for different reasons. These include changing how their body looked, for spiritual protection, and to show they were grown-up. In Argentina, it is sometimes called a barbote.
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History of the Tembetá
Experts believe that tembetás first came from the Planalto region in Brazil. From there, their use spread far south, even reaching El Quisco in Chile. Many native groups started using them, including the Guarani, Tupi, and Chiriguano peoples.
Why People Wore Tembetás
The tembetá was very important in special ceremonies. It showed that young men were becoming adults. After these ceremonies, the men were allowed to marry and take on the responsibilities of an adult. It was a big step in their lives.
How Tembetás Were Worn
The tembetá was an adornment worn by men in their lower lip. To prepare for the piercing, men would gather and drink chicha. This is a fermented drink made from corn, which helped to lessen the pain. A skilled person would then pierce the lip using a thick wooden needle. Once the hole was made, the tembetá was put in. The person would usually wear it for the rest of their life.
During the ceremony, people would ask for the tembetá to protect its owner from harm or death. Because it was placed near the mouth, which was seen as a place where bad forces could enter, it was considered a very powerful charm, even more than just a decoration.
The Molle culture used tembetás made from rock, often choosing stones with beautiful colors. These tembetás had a thin, curved plate that fit against the gums. In the middle, there was a button-like part, either round or pointed, that went through the lip about 5 to 7 centimeters deep.
Where Tembetás Were Found
Tembetás were used by many different cultures around the world, not just in South America. They were found among peoples in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Besides being decorative, they often had a special social meaning. Another type of tembetá was shaped like the letter "T" and made of stone, often talc. These T-shaped tembetás could also be used in rituals for smoking herbs.
Tembetás of the Guarani People
The Guarani called their tembetá a "labrete." Archeological discoveries show that Guarani tembetás were made of quartz and shaped like a "T," about 10 centimeters long. A shaman (a spiritual leader) would carefully craft the quartz. Quartz was special to them, linked to ita-verá (brilliant stone) from their myths, and to their great god Tupá of the Storm.
Tembetás in Chile
Tembetás were used by several ancient cultures in Chile before the arrival of Europeans. The main group was the Molle culture, who brought the idea of the tembetá from Brazil. Other cultures that came from the Molle, like the Diaguita, Llolleo, and Bato cultures, also used them.
For the Llolleo culture, the tembetá was extremely important. However, for the Bato people, it was more of a personal decoration and did not have as much spiritual meaning.
Social Meaning of Tembetás
The tembetá was believed to protect people from negative actions by the "owners of nature." It was also seen as a special adornment for "souls that travel to the land beyond." Many ancient tribes in the Amazon region greatly respected people who wore tembetás. They sometimes looked down on groups that did not use them.
See also
In Spanish: Tembetá para niños
