War and Cannibalism Among the Tupinambá: A Quest for the Eternal Body

When, in the 16th century, the first foreigners landed on the Brazilian shores, they were profoundly overwhelmed by a striking scenario: the unwavering inclination of the Amerindians, especially the Tupinambá, toward warfare and the capture of enemies. What was most surprising, however, was that their warfare was not primarily driven by the pursuit of wealth, but by the need to take prisoners for sacrifice in their cannibalistic rituals. This lecture investigates the symbolic fabric upon which the Tupinambá warfare was organized.  It demonstrates that the cannibalism practiced by these Amerindians was not primarily intended for the incorporation of the traits of the defeated individual. Instead, the ultimate goal of this practice was connected to the creation of an incorruptible body.