Lot 203 D α

According to Tobias Schneebaum ("Asmat Images", Agats, 1985, p.104), "omu" come from the Northwest Asmat, from the villages of Pupis, Momogu, Irogo, and perhaps Djakapis and Weo. The meaning of the word "omu" is not known; it apparently does not represent a spirit of any kind, human or otherwise. Two "omu" were found tied head to head on to the central beam of a feast house built by the people of Irogo, deep in the jungle. The carvings were incised with the designs of a butterfly, shell nosepieces and a tongue. The openings were stuffed with sago leaves. Limited descriptions of the feast vary from village to village, although all indicate that men and sometimes women danced along the beam and probably had sexual contact as well.