{{Short description|Aboriginal Australian mythology associated with the planet Venus}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}} {{Infobox deity | name = Barnumbirr, Bunumbirr, Morning Star | type = australian | image = Yolngu languages.png | caption = Map showing the geographical location of the Yolngu language group (Highlighted in green). | planet = Venus | deity_of = Yolngu creator-spirit | gender = Female | festivals = Morning Star Ceremony | region = Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia | ethnic_group = Yolngu | artefacts = Morning Star Pole | other_names = Banumbirr, Morning Star | affiliation = Creation, Death }}
'''Barnumbirr''', also spelt '''Bunumbirr''' or '''Banumbirr''' and also known as the '''Morning Star''', is a creator-spirit in the Yolngu culture of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, who is identified as the planet Venus.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Norris|first1=Ray P.|last2=Hamacher|first2=Duane W.|date=2009|title=The Astronomy of Aboriginal Australia|journal=Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union|language=en|volume=5|issue=S260|pages=39–47|doi=10.1017/S1743921311002122|issn=1743-9213|doi-access=free|arxiv=0906.0155}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Norris|first=Ray P.|date=2016|title=Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation|journal=Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia|language=en|volume=33|article-number=e039|doi=10.1017/pasa.2016.25|arxiv=1607.02215 |bibcode=2016PASA...33...39N |issn=1323-3580|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=abc2025>{{cite web |title=Venus is named Bunumbirr by Yolŋu People who hold ceremonies when the morning star rises |website= ABC News|series =Deep Time |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/deeptime/tell-me-a-story/yolngu-venus-ceremony/ |access-date=18 October 2025}}</ref> In Yolngu Dreaming mythology, she is believed to have guided the first humans, the Djanggawul sisters, to Australia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Berndt, Ronald M. (Ronald Murray)|title=Djanggawul : an aboriginal religious cult of north-eastern Arnhem Land|date=5 February 2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-138-86198-5|oclc=941876435}}</ref> After the Djanggawul sisters arrived safely near Yirrkala (at Yalangbara) in North East Arnhem Land, Barnumbirr flew across the land from east to west, creating a songline which named and created the animals, plants, and geographical features.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
Songlines were an important navigational tool for Aboriginal people.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=How ancient Aboriginal star maps have shaped Australia's highway network |url=http://theconversation.com/how-ancient-aboriginal-star-maps-have-shaped-australias-highway-network-55952|last=Fuller|first=Robert S.|website=The Conversation|date=6 April 2016 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> The route that Barnumbirr flew above northern Australia became a songline that spans multiple language groups and was therefore useful for travelling Yolngu and their neighbours.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal| last1=Harney| first1=Bill| last2=Norris| first2=Ray| date=2014| title=Song-lines and Navigation in Wardaman and Other Aboriginal Cultures|journal=Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage|volume=17|pages=141–148}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Research suggests that this songline through the Northern Territory and Western Australia, and others tracing paths in New South Wales and Queensland, have formed part of Australia’s network of motorways.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal| last1=Fuller| first1=Robert| last2=Trudgett| first2=Michelle| last3=Norris| first3=Ray| last4=Anderson| first4=Michael|date=2014|title=Starmaps and Travelling to Ceremonies: The Euahlayi People and their use of the night sky|journal=Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage|volume=17| issue=2|pages=149–160| doi=10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2014.02.02| arxiv=1406.7456| s2cid=53403053}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
Barnumbirr has a strong association with death in Yolngu culture.<ref name=":0" /> The "Morning Star Ceremony" corresponds with the rising of Barnumbirr and is a time when living Yolngu, with the help of Barnumbirr and the "Morning Star Pole", can communicate with their ancestors on Bralgu (var. Baralku), their final resting place.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
== Role in creation == Barnumbirr as a Morning Star is a creator spirit in Yolngu culture.<ref name=":0" /> Her story is part of the Dhuwa moiety.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Hutcherson|first=Gillian|title=Djalkiri Wanga: The Land is My Foundation|publisher=Berndt Museum of Anthropology| year=1995| isbn=0864224214| location=Western Australia}}</ref> Yolngu songlines depict Barnumbirr guiding the Djanggawul sisters as they row a canoe from the mythical island of Bralgu (the home of Wangarr, the Great Creator Spirit) to discover Australia<ref name=":1" /> and bring Madayin Law to the Dhuwa people.<ref name=":4">Gondarra, D. (2011). ''The Law and Justice within Indigenous Communities''. Presentation, Darwin, NT</ref> Once the sisters found land near Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land,<ref name=":1" /> Barnumbirr is believed to have continued flying eastward creating a song-line which includes descriptions of flora, fauna, geographical features and clan borders.<ref name=":0" /> Barnumbirr’s songline therefore formed the basis of Madayin Law and the Yolngu understanding of the land.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />
== Relationship with death == Barnumbirr has strong associations with death for Yolngu people.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /> The rising of Barnumbirr in the sky before sunrise is a time when the Yolngu conduct the "Morning Star Ceremony".<ref name=":0" /> As Venus becomes visible in the early hours before dawn, the Yolngu say that she draws behind her a rope that is connected to the island of Bralgu.<ref name=":0" /> Along this rope, with the aid of a richly decorated "Morning Star Pole", Yolngu people are able to release the spirits of their dead and communicate with their ancestors.<ref name=":7">Allen, L. (1976). ''Time Before Morning: Art and Myth of Aboriginal Australians''. Adelaide: Rigby.</ref><ref name=":5" />
Research<ref name=":0" /> suggests that this light is likely zodiacal light, caused by extraterrestrial dust reflecting light from the Solar System. This ‘rope’ is important in Yolngu mythology because it prevents Barnumbirr from straying too far from Bralgu and facilitates communication between dead and living people.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" />
=== The Morning Star Ceremony === The Morning Star Ceremony is a mortuary ceremony of the Dhuwa moiety.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /> In Dhuwa mythology, the Wangarr (Yolngu ancestors) perform the Morning Star ceremony every night of Venus’ synodic period.<ref name=":8">ABC Education. (2009). ''Morning Star Poles tell an artistic story'' [Video].</ref> In the real world, the Morning Star Ceremony is an important part of the funeral process for a small number of Yolngu clans.<ref name=":0" /> The ceremony begins at dusk and continues through the night, reaching a climax when Barnumbirr rises trailing a rope of light to connect with Bralgu.<ref name=":0" /> When Barnumbirr rises, the spirits of those who have recently died are released with the help of the Ceremony to Wangarr, the spirit-world.<ref name=":8" />
==== Planning the Morning Star Ceremony ==== Due to its scale and importance, the "Morning Star Ceremony" requires a significant level of planning.<ref name=":5" /> It occurs over the course of the night prior the first rising of Venus after a synodic period of approximately 584 days.<ref name=":9">The Venus Transit. (2004). European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 24 April 2020, from https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/Education/edu1app4.html</ref> Venus can then be seen as a Morning Star for approximately 263 days.<ref name=":9" /> The Yolngu people count the days of Venus’ synodic period to track the motion of Venus and plan the Morning Star Ceremony<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11">{{Citation|last1=Hamacher|first1=Duane W.|title=The Planets in Aboriginal Australia|date=2019-02-25|url=http://oxfordre.com/planetaryscience/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190647926.001.0001/acrefore-9780190647926-e-53|encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Planetary Science|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780190647926.013.53|isbn=978-0-19-064792-6|access-date=2020-05-17|last2=Banks|first2=Kirsten|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
=== The Morning Star Pole === The Morning Star Pole is a decorated ceremonial piece used in the Morning Star Ceremony.<ref name=":0" /> It is used to communicate with ancestors on Bralgu and is designed to depict Barnumbirr, its tail of zodiacal light and neighbouring celestial bodies.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":11" /> Each Morning Star Pole is unique to individual craftsmen and clans and therefore unique in appearance (Gurriwiwi, 2009).{{cn|date=July 2021}}
Attached to the top of the pole are feathers from a variety of birds which represent the Morning Star itself (Norris, 2016; Gurriwiwi, 2009). The pole is coloured with traditional patterns in ochre paint and together are a representation of the artist and their surrounding environment.<ref>Gurruwiwi, G. (2009). Morning Star Poles tell an artistic story [TV]. Elcho Island.</ref> Pandanus strings attach more feathers to the pole.<ref name=":0" /> These strings represent the string of light that attaches Barnumbirr to Bralgu<ref name=":11" /> as well as neighbouring stars and planets.<ref name=":0" />
==== Public interest in Morning Star poles ==== Morning Star poles have attracted attention from art galleries and collectors across the world.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rothwell|first=Nicolas|date=2010|title=Yalkarriwuy's morning star on the rise|work=The Australian}}</ref> Poles have been exhibited in a number of major Australian galleries and museums including QAGOMA,<ref>''Banumbirr (Morning Star Poles)'', 2017, Exhibition, QAGOMA, Access: https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/goma10hub/artists/banumbirr-morning-star-poles</ref> the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia,<ref name=":12">Burruwal, B. (2016). ''Buya Male''. Sydney: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Access: https://www.mca.com.au/artists-works/works/2016.32/</ref> the Art Gallery of NSW<ref>Djarrankuykuy, B (1948). ''Banumbirr'', Sydney: Art Gallery of NSW. Access: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/9283/</ref> and the Australian National Maritime Museum.<ref name=":10">{{Citation|title=Banumbirr: Morning Star Poles from Arnhem Land, NT, Australia|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVmY1X6BRxM|language=en|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> Gali Yalkarriwuy Gurruwiwi is a Yolngu man from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. He is a Morning Star custodian, maker and artist of Morning Star poles which have been displayed in galleries across the world.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hood Museum of Art|title=Crossing cultures : the Owen and Wagner collection of contemporary aboriginal Australian art at the Hood Museum of Art|others=Gilchrist, Stephen, Butler, Sally.|year=2012 | isbn=978-0-944722-44-2| location=Hanover, New Hampshire|oclc=785870480}}</ref> Gurriwiwi expresses a desire to use his art as a way bring people together and teach them about Yolngu culture.<ref>Gurruwiwi, G. (2009). [https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1758771/ Morning Star Poles tell an artistic story] [TV]. Elcho Island. </ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Millar|first=Paul| date=2008|title=An art passed from father to son captures life in poles (and $25,000)}}</ref> This desire to share indigenous culture with non-aboriginal people via Morning Star Poles is also shared by fellow Arnhem Land artist Bob Burruwal.<ref name=":12" />
== Venus in other Australian Indigenous cultures == Venus is the third brightest object in the night sky<ref name=":11" /> and because of this there are numerous cultural interpretations of Venus as a Morning and Evening Star across Australia’s Indigenous groups.<ref name=":11" /> The literature is sparse on the details of many of these interpretations,<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":14">Fuller, R (2015). ''The astronomy of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi peoples and their neighbours'' (MPhil thesis). Macquarie University.</ref> and in some cases cultural limitations prevent information from being shared.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":14" /> There are, however, relatively detailed recounts of the Euahlayi and Kamilaroi,<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14" /> Arrernte<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":15">Thornton, W., 2007. ''Tnorala - Baby Falling''. (Video) Canberra, Ronin Films. Produced by the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs.</ref> and Queensland Gulf Country people’s<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":16">{{Cite book|last=Reed|first=Alexander|title=Myths and legends of Australia|publisher=Reed New Holland|year=1965|isbn=058907041X|location=Sydney, Australia}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite book|last=Hulley, Charles E., 1928-|title=Dreamtime moon : aboriginal myths of the moon|date=1996|publisher=Reed Books|others=Roberts, Ainslie.|isbn=0-7301-0491-5|location=Chatswood, NSW|oclc=37156218}}</ref> interpretations.
=== Kamilaroi and Euahlayi === {{See also|Gamilaraay}} The Kamilaroi and Euahlayi peoples of Northern New South Wales interpret Venus as a morning star differently to the Yolngu but it shares similar significance.<ref name=":14" /> The story of the Eagle-hawk (Muliyan) is recounted in Reed<ref name=":16" /> Fuller<ref name=":14" /> and Hamacher & Banks.<ref name=":11" /> The eagle-hawk once lived in a large Yarran tree and hunted people for food near the Barwon River. One day, a group of men set out after him to avenge his killing of their people. The men set fire to the tree and killed Muliyan. The eagle-hawk then ascended into the sky as Muliyangah, the morning star. Euahlayi/Kamilaroi people interpret Muliyangah as the eyes of Baayami (Baiame) watching over the earth during the night.<ref name=":14" />
Due to Baayami’s cultural significance, Kamilaroi/Euahlayi people also place great importance on a Morning Star Ceremony but cultural sensitivities prevent much detail from being revealed in the literature.<ref name=":14" /> Fuller’s research<ref name=":14" /> does explain, however, that Venus rising as an evening star is a sign to light a sacred fire. This fire is re-lit every night until Venus rises as a Morning Star and the flame is extinguished. Like the Yolngu version this ceremony also includes the use of a wooden pole, but in this case it is held horizontally as a symbol of connection between dark and light peoples (the two moieties of the Kamilaroi/Euahlayi), and the unity of marriage.<ref name=":14" /> The Euahlayi/Kamilaroi also require an understanding of the celestial movements of Venus. The literature is unclear, however, on how Euahlayi/Kamilaroi elders predict the date Venus rises.<ref name=":14" />
=== Arrernte === {{See also|Arrernte people}} Venus as a morning and evening star are a central component of the Arrernte interpretation of Tnorala. Tnorala is a 5-kilometre-wide, 250-metre-tall ring-shaped mountain range {{cvt|160|km}} west of Alice Springs.<ref name=":11" /> Arrernte people believe that in the creation period, a group of women took the form of stars and danced the Corroboree in the Milky Way.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":15" /> As they danced, one of the women dropped a baby which then fell to earth and formed the indent that can be seen in the ring-shaped mountain range. The baby’s parents, the morning star (father) and evening star (mother), continue to take turns looking for their baby.Arrernte parents warn their children not to stare at the morning or evening stars because the baby’s parents may mistake a staring child for their own and take them away.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":15" />
=== North Queensland Gulf Country Aboriginal peoples === Similarities can be found between creator role of Barnumbirr in Yolngu culture, and the Morning Star as a creator spirit in North Queensland's Gulf Country Dreaming. Gulf country Aboriginal peoples believed that two brothers, the moon (older) and the morning star (younger) travel across the landscape in the creation period, using a boomerang to create features of the landscape such as valleys, hills and seas.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" />
== Further interpretations ==
=== Songlines and mapping === {{further|Songline}} For Aboriginal Australians, songlines (also called "Dreaming Tracks") are an oral map of the landscape, setting out trading routes,<ref>Mulvaney, J., & Kamminga, J. (1999). ''Prehistory of Australia''. Sydney: Allen & Unwin</ref> and often connecting sacred sites.<ref name=":3" /> Song-lines on the land are often mirrored, or mirrors of, "paths" connecting stars and planets in the sky.<ref name=":2" /> Star maps are also play an important role as mnemonics to aid in the memory of songlines.<ref name=":3" />
The path that Barnumbirr is believed to have travelled from west to east across northern Australia is recounted in a songline that tracks a navigable route through the landscape.<ref name=":0" /> Mountains, waterholes and clan boundaries are mentioned throughout the song and it therefore became an important navigational tool for travelling Yolngu and their neighbours.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
=== Songlines and Australia's highway network === There is new research<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":13" /> suggesting that these song-lines form the basic route of significant sections of Australia’s highway network. Colonial explorers and mappers used Indigenous peoples as guides, who navigated using their star maps when travelling through the land.<ref name=":2" /> It is hypothesised that these Dreaming tracks were then solidified by the construction and subsequent upgrade of modern roads.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> By matching star maps from Euahlayi and Kamilaroi cultures with maps of modern Australian roads in northern NSW, Fuller<ref name=":2" /> finds strong similarities. Harney and Wositsky<ref name=":18">{{Cite book|last1=Harney|first1=Bill|title=Born under the paperbark tree: a man's life|last2=Wositsky|first2=Jan|publisher=ABC Books| year=1999| isbn=0-7333-0514-8| location=Sydney| oclc=38410566}}</ref> and Harney & Norris<ref name=":3" /> also argue that the Barnumbirr songline sets a course similar to that of the Victoria Highway across the Northern Territory: <blockquote>''They call it the Victorian Highway now, but it was never the Victorian Highway at all – it was just the original Aboriginal walking track right through Arnhem Land.''<ref name=":18" /></blockquote>The historical evidence surrounding this concept is sparse but more recent work is uncovering the significance of song-lines (related to Barnumbirr and otherwise) in forming the basis for modern Australian roads.
==In the arts and media== ===Dance=== Banula Marika collaborated with founder of the Australian Dance Theatre, choreographer Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, in a dance performance entitled ''Morning Star'' (2012–3). Marika is custodian of the Morning Star story,<ref>{{cite web | title=A passion for dance | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=10 March 2012|first= Jennifer |last= Kingma| url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/a-passion-for-dance-20120309-1uns9.html | access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref> and served as cultural consultant on the work. The Mirramu Dance Company performed ''Morning Star'' in March 2013 at the James O. Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.<ref>{{cite web | title=Morning Star. Mirramu Dance Company | website=Michelle Potter... On Dance | date=21 March 2013| first= Michelle| last=Potter | url=https://michellepotter.org/2013/page/7 | access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
=== Film === A forthcoming documentary film entitled ''Morning Star'', about renowned elder and master maker and player of the yidaki, Djalu Gurruwiwi, is {{as of|lc=yes|January 2021}} in the post-production phase.<ref name=msabout>{{cite web | title=About Morning Star | website=Morning Star Documentary | url=https://www.morningstardocumentary.com/about | access-date=25 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725090803/https://www.morningstardocumentary.com/about| archive-date= 25 July 2021| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=mswhat>{{cite web | title=What is Morning Star? | website=Morning Star Documentary | url=https://www.morningstardocumentary.com/ | access-date=21 January 2020}}</ref>
==See also== *Australian Aboriginal astronomy *Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{YouTube|BVmY1X6BRxM|Morning Star Ceremony at Australian National Maritime Museum in 2002}}. Published by Bandigan Arts (2014).
Category:Venusian deities Category:Australian Aboriginal mythology Category:Archaeoastronomy Category:Yolngu