Lot 5c: KUR-04 Kuruxu – The Cross

Also known as The Southern Cross, this is one the most easily visible constellation in the southern hemisphere. Besides using the Kuruxu as a guide to see the cardinal points, the Guaranis also determine the seasons of the year by watching the position of the cross: at fall, the cross points to the east; in winter, it stands vertical pointing to the South; in spring the Kuruxu points to the West, and during summer it's upside down. It's important to mention that the cross is not a reference to Christian symbols. The native Brazilians only came in contact with European cultures hundreds of years later.