Tupilaq
An avenging monster made by Inuit shamans.
A tupilaq (also spelled tupilak, written ᑐᐱᓚᒃ in Inuktitut syllabics, with the plural form tupilait) refers to either a monster or a carved representation of one. In Inuit belief, particularly in Greenland, a tupilaq was a vengeful creature created by an angakkuq—a shaman or witch—using materials like animal bones, skin, hair, sinew, and even parts from dead children. The angakkuq brought the tupilaq to life through ritual chants and then sent it into the sea to hunt down and destroy a specific enemy. This practice carried great risk: if the target possessed stronger magic, the tupilaq could be turned back against its creator. The only way for the maker to survive this rebound was to publicly confess what they had done.
Because tupilait were made in secret, in remote places, and from materials that decay quickly, none have survived from earlier times. Early European visitors to Greenland, intrigued by the legend, wanted to see what a tupilaq looked like, so Inuit began carving representations from sperm whale teeth. Today, tupilait are carved in many shapes and sizes from materials such as narwhal and walrus tusk, wood, and caribou antler. They are an important part of Greenlandic Inuit art and are highly valued as collectibles.
The creation of a tupilaq usually began at night, in secrecy. The angakkuq would wear their parka or anorak backward, with the hood pulled over their face, and would engage in sexual contact with the bones used in the making, all while singing and chanting over several days. The myth holds that the process was dangerous because the creature could rebound against its maker if the victim had stronger magic. In such cases, only a public confession could save the maker. This idea—that secrecy could lead to magical consequences, while public confession could neutralize them—applied to other areas of life as well.
Concealment was believed to create magical effects in several situations. For example, a hidden miscarriage or infanticide could produce a monster called anngiaq. A concealed breach of taboo could bring harm to the entire community. Secrecy was also a necessary first step for the use of certain formulas—texts or songs used as charms or spells in times of danger, need, hunting, or everyday tasks.
Public confession, on the other hand, could undo these effects.
- Field
- Inuit religion and mythology
- Culture
- Inuit, especially Greenlandic Inuit
- Known for
- Avenging monster fabricated by an angakkuq; also carved representations in art
- Associated with
- Angakkuq (shaman or witch)
- Materials
- Animal parts, child corpse parts, later sperm whale teeth, narwhal and walrus tusk, wood, caribou antler
Lore & Background
The making of a tupilaq started most often at night, in secrecy. The angakkuq would don their parka or anorak backwards, with the hood over their face, and engage in sexual contact with the bones used to make a tupilaq, singing and chanting during the entire process, which could take several days. The myth states that the making of a tupilaq was risky to its own maker if the attacked person made it rebound: in this case, public confession was the only rescue. The magic consequences of situations of concealment, and the neutralizing effect of public confession was believed also in several other areas of life, thus, this is an example of the more general topic of secrecy versus publicity.
Because tupilaq were made in secret, in isolated places and from perishable materials, none have been preserved. Early European visitors to Greenland, fascinated by the native legend, were eager to see what tupilaq looked like, so Inuit began to carve representations of them out of sperm whale teeth. Today, tupilaq of many different shapes and sizes are carved from various materials such as narwhal and walrus tusk, wood and caribou antler. They are an important part of Greenlandic Inuit art, and are highly prized as collectibles.
Reader's Guide
The tupilaq holds significance as a key figure in Inuit religion and mythology, particularly in Greenland, where it embodies the concept of a magically constructed avenger. Its creation by an angakkuq involved secret rituals, including chants and sexual contact with bones, and the creature was sent to destroy a specific enemy. The risk of the tupilaq rebounding onto its maker if the target had greater magical powers highlights the theme of secrecy versus publicity, where public confession could neutralize the danger. This concept of concealment and confession extended to other areas of Inuit life, such as taboo breaches and hunting rituals. The tupilaq's legacy is also material: because original tupilait were made from perishable materials and none survived, early European visitors prompted Inuit to carve representations from sperm whale teeth. Today, these carvings are made from narwhal and walrus tusk, wood, and caribou antler, forming an important part of Greenlandic Inuit art and highly prized collectibles. Variants of the tupilaq concept exist across Inuit cultures, with differences in visibility (invisible ghosts vs. physical objects) and roles (scaring game vs. attacking settlements), but the core idea of a magically empowered being remains consistent.
Did You Know?
- The tupilaq was made from animal parts and even parts taken from the corpses of children.
- If the tupilaq was sent against someone with greater magical powers, it could be sent back to kill its maker.
- No original tupilait have been preserved because they were made from perishable materials in secret, isolated places.
- Early European visitors to Greenland prompted Inuit to carve tupilaq representations from sperm whale teeth.
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