shaman
/ˈʃɑːmən/
Definition
A spiritual or ritual practitioner, typically in traditional societies, believed to possess the ability to mediate between the spirit world and the physical world.
Etymology
Derived from the Evenki word 'samān,' referring to a spiritual healer or seer in Siberian cultures. It entered English through German, eventually becoming the standard term in anthropology for religious practitioners who serve as intermediaries with the supernatural.
In the news
The term appears in a sidebar headline describing an archaeological discovery where DNA analysis revealed that a Bronze Age figure traditionally identified as a male shaman was actually female. This highlights the role of modern science in re-evaluating historical assumptions about gender roles in early societies.
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