Venus is the third brightest object in the night sky and in some cases cultural limitations prevent information from being shared. and Queensland Gulf Country people’s interpretations.
Kamilaroi and Euahlayi The
Kamilaroi and
Euahlayi peoples of Northern
New South Wales interpret Venus as a morning star differently to the Yolngu but it shares similar significance. The story of the Eagle-hawk (Muliyan) is recounted in Reed Fuller and Hamacher & Banks. The eagle-hawk once lived in a large
Yarran tree and hunted people for food near the
Barwon River. One day, a group of men set out after him to avenge his killing of their people. The men set fire to the tree and killed Muliyan. The eagle-hawk then ascended into the sky as Muliyangah, the morning star. Euahlayi/Kamilaroi people interpret Muliyangah as the eyes of
Baayami (Baiame) watching over the earth during the night. Due to Baayami’s cultural significance, Kamilaroi/Euahlayi people also place great importance on a Morning Star Ceremony but cultural sensitivities prevent much detail from being revealed in the literature. Fuller’s research does explain, however, that Venus rising as an evening star is a sign to light a sacred fire. This fire is re-lit every night until Venus rises as a Morning Star and the flame is extinguished. Like the Yolngu version this ceremony also includes the use of a wooden pole, but in this case it is held horizontally as a symbol of connection between dark and light peoples (the two moieties of the Kamilaroi/Euahlayi), and the unity of marriage. The Euahlayi/Kamilaroi also require an understanding of the celestial movements of Venus. The literature is unclear, however, on how Euahlayi/Kamilaroi elders predict the date Venus rises.
Arrernte Venus as a morning and evening star are a central component of the
Arrernte interpretation of
Tnorala. Tnorala is a 5-kilometre-wide, 250-metre-tall ring-shaped mountain range west of
Alice Springs. Arrernte people believe that in the creation period, a group of women took the form of stars and danced the
Corroboree in the
Milky Way. As they danced, one of the women dropped a baby which then fell to earth and formed the indent that can be seen in the ring-shaped mountain range. The baby’s parents, the morning star (father) and evening star (mother), continue to take turns looking for their baby.Arrernte parents warn their children not to stare at the morning or evening stars because the baby’s parents may mistake a staring child for their own and take them away.
North Queensland Gulf Country Aboriginal peoples Similarities can be found between creator role of Barnumbirr in Yolngu culture, and the Morning Star as a creator spirit in
North Queensland's
Gulf Country Dreaming. Gulf country Aboriginal peoples believed that two brothers, the moon (older) and the morning star (younger) travel across the landscape in the creation period, using a
boomerang to create features of the landscape such as valleys, hills and seas. == Further interpretations ==