An Aboriginal Australian myth: 'the Moon and the origins of death'

An Aboriginal Australian myth: 'the Moon and the origins of death'

UCL AnthropologyLondon, England
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm GMT
Overview

Anthropologist Chris Knight brings together stories of the origins of death across continents

People once died only for a few days before returning to life as the Moon does each month. After examining some Australian variants on this world-wide tale, Chris Knight will connect it with the 'Bird-Nester' myths so central to Claude Lévi-Strauss' four-volume 'Introduction the Science of Mythology'.

The image shows Australian ancestral artefacts of the story of the fight betweenTapara, who becomes the Moon, and Purukupali, whose son dies (at his insistence when the Moon offers to bring him back to life after he had sex with Purukupali's wife Bimi)

Everyone is welcome

LIVE in the UCL Anthropology Dept (room to be confirmed)
or on ZOOM ID 952 8554 1412 passcode Wawilak
Invite link
https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95285541412?pwd=LjI5yIagplvPmFXVwSnLbDbV1xUiep.1

Anthropologist Chris Knight brings together stories of the origins of death across continents

People once died only for a few days before returning to life as the Moon does each month. After examining some Australian variants on this world-wide tale, Chris Knight will connect it with the 'Bird-Nester' myths so central to Claude Lévi-Strauss' four-volume 'Introduction the Science of Mythology'.

The image shows Australian ancestral artefacts of the story of the fight betweenTapara, who becomes the Moon, and Purukupali, whose son dies (at his insistence when the Moon offers to bring him back to life after he had sex with Purukupali's wife Bimi)

Everyone is welcome

LIVE in the UCL Anthropology Dept (room to be confirmed)
or on ZOOM ID 952 8554 1412 passcode Wawilak
Invite link
https://ucl.zoom.us/j/95285541412?pwd=LjI5yIagplvPmFXVwSnLbDbV1xUiep.1

Good to know

Highlights

  • 1 hour 30 minutes
  • In person

Location

UCL Anthropology

14 Taviton Street

London WC1H 0BW

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Organized by
Camilla Power
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