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Koshares

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A sacred clown society in Pueblo cultures that uses satire, ritual performance, and parody to teach moral lessons and maintain balance.

Detailed Definition
Koshares are members of the Pueblo sacred clown society who use humor, satire, and inversion to teach moral lessons and maintain social balance. They appear in ceremonies with striped body paint and exaggerated behavior. In poetry, Koshares symbolize subversive wisdom, community critique, and the healing power of laughter, often invoked to explore themes of truth-telling, resilience, and the sacred role of folly in maintaining harmony.
Example
Example in poetry:
Koshares, the Pueblo sacred clowns, prance through poems mocking greed with exaggerated masks; A verse describes Koshares tripping over their own greed during harvest; Poets use Koshares to critique consumerism: “They wear rags but own the truth”; In ceremony poetry, their antics restore balance through laughter; Their paint becomes a mirror in verse—showing society its follies.
Additional Notes
Koshares are sacred clowns in Pueblo cultures (e.g., Hopi, Zuni) who use satire to teach social norms; they appear in ceremonies with striped bodies and exaggerated behavior—poets must respect their ritual function and avoid portraying them as mere entertainers.
Also Known As
Koshare Koshari
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