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Ngalyod at Milmilngkan
The rainbow serpent is a powerful mythological figure for all aboriginal people throughout Australia.
Characteristics of the rainbow serpent vary greatly from group to group and also depending
On the site often viewed as a female generative, the rainbow serpent can sometimes also be male.
She has both powers of creation and is most strongly associated with rain, monsoon seasons of
Course the colour seen in rainbow which arc across the sky like a giant serpent .for aboriginal
People in northern Australia, the rainbow serpent is said to be active during the wet season.
Often she is associated with billabongs and freshwater springs where she resides and she is responsible for the production of most water plants such as water lillies, water vines and,
Palms which grow near water. The roar of waterfalls in the escarpment country is said to be her voice large holes in Stoney banks of rivers and cliff faces are said to be her tracks. She is
Held in awe because of her apparent ability to renew her life by shedding her skin and emerging anew. Aboriginal myths about Ngalyod often describe as a fearful creature who
Swallows humans only to regurgitate them, transformed by her blood. The white ochre used by artists to create the brilliant white paint for bark painting, body decoration and art, is said to be the faeces of rainbow Serpent.
Aboriginal people today respect and caretake sacred sites where the rainbow serpent is said reside. Often certain activities are forbidden at these places for fear wrath of the great snake will cause sickness, accidents and even tempests. This is not always the case however are
Many rainbow serpent sites today where people may enter to hunt, fish or swim. Milmligkan, where Ngalyod is depicted in this painting is an example of a sacred site also used as a hunting camp. It is a sacred billabong and an important resting place for Ngalyod, not far from Kurrurldal.
Ngalyod’s association with water plants is represented in this painting by tow water lilly leaves in white ochre. In this depiction, Ngalyod is pregnant, as shown by the tow white humps in body. When pregnant, Ngalyod is referred to in Kunwinjku as Wadiyal.
