Tanit: the Stones of Tanit

I am certain that in the time when this symbol was first being made in society that it was used to express very important ideas and so was not in any way a casual or simple emotional construction.

For some time now I have been making small Tanit sculptures in various stones I find here on Pantelleria. I am convinced more than ever that this symbol is a language, a picture of something. It has many properties or powers, this image. There is value in the geomancy itself, and also in the shape-shifting of the form between what appears to be a female figure and the actual geometry, which depicts a sacred space. It has value as
an amulet: a kind of food for the ancient memories some people have access to inside their minds. Carving this object in stone has been educational. Much of the work of making art is generated from a different place in the brain than academic thoughts: say, for example in just studying or examining the image.

I think this is a good symbol for the people of this time. I have tried to keep my carvings simple and pure to the idea of the form of the image. Keeping the image simple and pure is very important.

Sometimes I think it is a picture of an offering (the triangle) being brought to a sacred fire (the circle), this fire burning is on or in an altar (arms).

For nearly 30 years I have been making ritually based (ceremonial) objects in stone.  I have had a long experience with ceremonial, sometimes called “power” objects. I understand many of them, from many cultures. One thing that was very important to tribal ceremonial objects was the idea of “intent”. There had to be in every case a clear “intent” when requesting, making or possessing such objects: always. It was never casual. The right objects being displayed at the right time is a particular method of communication between initiated persons. Initiated persons also use such objects to test, reveal, examine and support uninitiated people in the waiting world. For example Julius Caesar did not make sacred power objects but understood very well how to place them, exhibit them, gift them and make politically correct gestures to the keepers of such objects.

Even if we are not now certain what it was: it is clear to me that there was clear “intent” in making this symbol we call the figure of Tanit.

This is a document in progress. It will be updated from time to time.