The term "Ijele" refers to ritual masks used in the Northern Ogbo culture (northeast Nigeria). The most significant characteristic of these masks is their size and complexity. They can be up to twelve feet high with supporting platforms of six feet in diameter. They consist of tiers of cloth figures depicting daily scenes. Their ritual function is to honor the dead and ensure well-being of the community (Getlein and Gilbert 421).
"Nowo" is a spirit honored in the Temne culture of Sierra Leone. The spirit is believed to guide Temne women and is frequently represented as a black mask (see Getlein 420), which is worn at celebrations marking the rite from girlhood to womanhood. The mask represents the ideal of female beauty and modesty. Both the ijele and the nowo mask are representative of African traditions, as they are used in important religious and cultural rites. Although their appearance and texture is quite different they share similar cultural significance.
In Buddhism, the term "bodhisattva" denotes an enlightened being. As such, the bodhisattva is a popular subject of Buddhist art. The bodhisattva represents an ideal in Buddhism and its representations are thus reminders of Buddhist virtues, similarly to the iconography of the Christian faith (Getlein and Gilbert 51). The representations of bodhisattva are manifold and range from paintings to bas-reliefs or sculptures. One example can be found in Getlein's book on page 51.
"Devaraja" is a term that emerged in Khmer culture and signifies on the notion that Khmer kings were worshipped as deities. The kings identified with specific Hindu or Buddhist deities and it was believed that they were earthly manifestations of these deities (Getlein and Gilbert 430). The temples built in honor of these gods were consequently also built to honor the kings. One example of such a temple can be fo
...