Caamooilcoj

Authors: ASE Tech Team

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Seri constellation: Caamooilcoj in the planetarium software Stellarium (CC-BY Raúl Pérez-Enríquez in Stellarium)

Caamooilcoj is Seri constellation name. It is referring to the Wheel Game.

Etymology and History

All this knowledge of Comca'ac people comes from prehispanic epoch, and it has prevailed through centuries. Still today, it is possible to hear the stories and legends behind the naming of constellations and the events on the sea and on the desert.

The description of the Comca'ac (Seri) Constellations presented here comes from the book "Bajo el cielo Comca'ac: Astronomía entre el mar y el desierto", written by Arturo Morales Blanco, in which it is possible to identify the relations between sky, sea and desert, as they are recovered by oral tradition and family memories.

This knowledge has arrived to us by oral transmission from generation to generation through time and shows how the events from the sea like the appearance of crabs or the abundance of Totoaba (a large fish, now in danger), comes along with the presence of sets of stars in the sky.

Origin of Constellation

This constellation named Caamooilcoj (Wheel Game), is one of the most important arrays of stars between Comca'ac people; it can be observed at plenitude at winter; with around fifteen stars in a wheeled shape, and stars as reed tablets (tablillas de carrizo) which play the role of dice. It is said that in ancient times, this game was played by men, exclusively, who put as bet their own life; now, the game is played at festivals and special occasions by women representing events of life and protection; in particular, it is played during puberty ceremonies for example; or at the feast of zaaptim (great basket). For this game, several round pieces of Pitahayas (cactus fruits) or of 'cinita' (four lines cactus) made the circle (today, they are decorated stones with different motives); and, three reed pieces (tablillas de carrizo), painted in colours. The meaning of these three colours are: Red - the blood and death; Blue - the sky and the sea; and, White - purity, good health and protection.

References

• References (general)