Spiders in Aboriginal art

In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal people have depicted spiders in their bark and rock paintings.

Spiders are an important Burnungku clan totem for the Rembarrnga/Kyne people in central Arnhem Land. Spiders in their webs are associated with a sacred rock on the clan estate and the design is connected with a major regional ceremony. These spider totems provide a link with neighbouring clans who also use spider totems in their rituals.

Rock painting of a large huntsman-like spider. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Less than 800 years old. Photo: P Taçon © Australian Museum.

Rock painting of a fish shooting a jet of water at a spider. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Less than 800 years old. Photo: P Taçon © Australian Museum.

Bark painting. Artist: Lena Yarinkura Rembarrnga/Kune language group, Arnhem Land. Purchased by the Australian Museum in 1997 from Maningrida Arts and Culture.

Rock painting of a spider descending next to a woman. Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Between 500 and 2000 years old. Photo: P Taçon © Australian Museum.

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