University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Sorry, we couldn't find anything matching "This lidded container was meant to hold offerings made to the right hand and the head by the Yoruban men. These body parts represented strength, masculinity, success, and personal achievement. There is evidence of blue pigment, probably from an offering or sacrifice, on the interior. The cowrie shells were a symbol of status and wealth. Cowrie shells were used as currency in pre-Christian times in India, the Middle East and China; they remained a means of payment into the 20th century in Africa and the Pacific Islands. They are found mostly in the Indian Ocean region, and so were considered a rarity in western Africa. Slave traders probably brought cowrie shells to western Africa. In some countries, the cowrie shell represented fertility, and was given to brides to guarantee offspring and provide a safe delivery. African royalty and other community leaders also used cowrie shells for personal adornment.".