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In Inuit mythology, Silap Inua ('possessor of spirit') or Silla ('breath, spirit') was similar to mana or ether, the primary component of everything that exists; it is also the breath of life and the method of locomotion for any movement or change. Silla was believed to control everything that goes on in one's life. Silla is a deity of the sky, the wind, and the weather. Though identified as male, he is never depicted, and thought to be formless. There are very few myths in which Silla is a character, because he is not thought to have many personality characteristics. He also represents a concept somewhat akin to the Hindu idea of Paramatman, or Emerson’s idea of the great Over soul: Silla is also believed to be the substance of which souls are made of. Contrary to the Christian missionaries who have identified Nanook the polar bear spirit as the supreme deity of the Inuit, Silla is much closer to this role. However Silla also has a somewhat malevolent aspect: he is known to lure children away from their play off into the tundra, never to be seen again. Among the many various Eskimo cultures, term ''silap inua'' / ''sila'', ''hillap inua'' / ''hilla'' (among Inuit), ''siḷam iñua'' (among Inupiaq), ''ellam yua'' / ''ella'' (among Yup'ik) is used with some diversity.〔Kleivan & Sonne 1985: 31〕 In many instances it refers “outer space”, “intellect”, “weather”, “sky”, “universe”:〔〔Mousalimas 1997: 23–26〕〔Nuttall 1997: 75〕〔Merkur 1985: 235–240〕〔Gabus 1970: 230–234〕 there may be some correspondence with the presocratic concept of logos.〔〔()〕 Shamanhood among Eskimo peoples was a diverse phenomenon, just like the various Eskimo cultures themselves. Among Copper Inuit, shamans were believed to obtain their power from this “Wind Indweller”, thus even their helping spirits were termed as ''silap inue''.〔Merkur 1985: 230〕 Among Siberian Yupik, (:sl̥am juɣwa) was depicted as a mighty hunter, catching game just like earthly men, but being capable of controlling whether people paid attention to customs and traditions.〔Menovščikov 1968: 447〕 In Sireniki Eskimo language, the word (:siˈlʲa) has meanings “universe”, “outer world”, “space”, “free space”, “weather”.〔Меновщиков 1964: 195〕 ==History== According to the interpretations of anthropologists, Silla is one of the oldest Inuit deities, but was recently (in the last thousand years) supplanted by Sedna, (the goddess of sea mammals) and the Caribou Mother (the goddess of caribou) when these became the major food sources of the Inuit. Anthropologists believe that the belief is extremely old because of the widespread nature of this deity. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Silap Inua」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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