Adobe Gallery Blog
Hopi Pueblo Sio Hemis Katsina Doll by Jimmy Koots - 25771
Category: Kachina - Katsina | Posted by | Fri, Jul 22nd 2016, 4:22pm
The Hemis and Sio Hemis Katsinas are probably the most beautiful and best known of all Hopi Katsinas. Their elaborate headdress, called a tableta, is partly responsible for their attraction. They both wear a kilt, and around the waist a Hopi embroidered rain sash.
The Sio Hemis Katsina is an import at Hopi from Zuni Pueblo probably in the 1890s. He may substitute for the traditional Hopi Hemis during the Niman Ceremony of mid-July. There is very little difference between the Hemis and Sio Hemis except for the decoration of the tableta. The Hopi Hemis has towering clouds and rain depicted on the tableta, while the Sio Hemis has dragonflies and sunflowers with smaller clouds at the top.