Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. Its cave art became known in the west in the 1930s. The Great God of Sefar is the name given to one of the famous panels from the site. It depicts a mysterious figure with hands raised, large bulges at his elbows and an oval between his legs.
Table of Contents
S1 – Discovery
Tassili n’Ajjer is a vast plateau in south-east Algeria. It is world famous due to the presence of numerous prehistoric rock art sites in the region dating to the Neolithic era. This rock art became known in the west due to the visits and sketches made by French legionnaires in the 1930s. Lieutenant Charles Brenans was the most prominent contributor among these legionnaires. On several of his expeditions, Brenans took French archaeologist Henri Lhote with him. Lhote returned to the site many times till 1970. However, he is now accused of forgery and for damaging the site.
S2 – Description
Sefar is located in the heart of the Tassili N’Ajjer. Great God of Sefar is perhaps the most famous representation at the site. The figure depicted is outlined in red with its arms bent and hands raised. It has bands at his arms, wrist, waist and legs. Two large bulges at his elbows are clearly noticeable. Their meaning is debated. It also has a mysterious large oval between his legs. It has been interpreted as a false tail by European scholars.
The Masa population living near Lake Chad believe in a God named Matna, whose main characteristic is his huge scrotum affected by elephantiasis. As the oval between the legs of the Great God of Sefar looks like his genital organs have swollen, the proposition that the depicted male is Matna has also been suggested.
S3 – Age
Tassili n’Ajjer covers an area of roughly 80,000 sq km and contains some of the most important sites of prehistoric art. Based on OSL dating of associated sediments, the earliest art in the region is considered to be about 12,000 years old; while the majority of artworks date between 10,000 and 9.000 years old. Thus the Great God of Sefar must have been created around this time.
S4 – Prehistoric Rock Art Purpose
S5 – Neolithic Art Overview
Main Sources
S1, S3:-
“African Rock Art / Countries / Algeria”. The British Museum.
“Tassili n’Ajjer”. Bradshaw Foundation.
S2:-
Soukopova, Jitka. (2015). “Tassili Paintings: Ancient Roots of Current African Beliefs?”. pp. 118, 119.