Muiraquita
History
It is said that the precursors to the Icamiabas carved the first muiraquita as protective amulets that ward the wearer from diseases and infertility. The tradition has been passed down to this day with similar themes retained. Whereas they were originally exclusively frogs carved from jade, over the years they can be carved from nephrite, or wood. They can also be carved into the shape of other local animals like fish, turtles, even people depending on the purpose.
Significance
Typically this amulet is offered as a gift by the Icamiaba female warriors to their mates, including those who annually visit their camps near the river.
Each settlement has their own specifics, but most have an annual ceremony that takes place at night usually during a full moon. The Icamiabias who have mates from outside of their tribes will participate along their "Guacaris" a term used for local non-Amazon humanoid males that some Icamiabias will couple with to have families.
During the ceremony, they dive into the river and bring up a greenish clay in their hands, which they mold into various forms: frogs, turtles or other animals, and presented these to their loved ones. Retrieved from the bottom of the river and shaped by the women, the still soft clay hardened in contact with the elements. These objects were then strung on the strands of hair of their brides and used as amulets by their male mates. To date, this amulet is considered a sacred object, believed to bring happiness and luck and also to cure almost all diseases.
Item type
Jewelry / Valuable
Rarity
Muiraquita are very rare, seldom seen items outside of areas where the Icamiabas live and can fetch extremely high prices because of that. Ironically, they are a much more common sight within the community but no less valuable.
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