Iconographies

1 annotations

Ẹghughu

Crocodile

See Ẹghughu page

In the riverine area surrounding Benin City, there are two types of crocodile. The Ẹghughu, known in English as the dwarf or bush crocodile, is believed to be more docile ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 133). The second type is the Àgbákà, the aggressive Nile crocodile ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 11).

Crocodiles are one of the important animals represented in the historical Emwin Arhe, and they are known as Olokun’s guards or the “policemen” of the waters. The powerful and ferocious qualities of these animals might explain why warrior figures are often depicted wearing Uhunmwu-Ẹkuẹ (pendant masks) in the shape of crocodile heads on Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques) ( ). Olokun devotees use crocodiles as sacrificial animals in offerings during the worship of Olokun.

1 annotation

Provenance

4 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.

Unknown

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to 1928

The object is known to have come into contact with Walter Leo Hildburgh.

Gift

1928

The object was given as a gift by Walter Leo Hildburgh to the American Museum of Natural History with its destination in New York City.

Institution data

American Museum of Natural History

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2022-09-10

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Catalog # object id	90.1/6146
Ref. # object id	EB47
Object Name designation object type	Fetish/Rattle*
Dimensions dimensions	None recorded
Country production place	Benin
Locale production place	Nigeria
Donor prior source	WL Hildburgh
Acq Year accession date accession method	1928 Gift
In HOAP?	Yes

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