Mimi Spirits: The First Rock Artists
In the Aboriginal Australian mythology of Arnhem Land in northern Australia, Mimi spirits (also called Mimih) are fairy-like beings with extremely thin and elongated bodies. They are so thin that they risk breaking in strong winds, which is why they spend most of their time living in rock crevices. According to tradition, the Mimi spirits had human form and lived in northern Australia before the Aboriginal people arrived. They were the first to make rock paintings, teaching the Aboriginal people how to paint, hunt, and cook kangaroo meat. Mimi are considered mischievous but generally harmless,