FOOTPRINTS OF IRÚNMỌLẸ̀S? THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF PETROSOMATOGLYPH IN THE WORLD IN ÈRÚWÀ
Called “the angels’ footprint” or “onígba poro” by the indigenes, the rock formation which appears like small puddles on the rock, some in the shape of human footprint, is located in Èrúwà, Ibarapa Area of Oyo state.
A petrosomatoglyph is a supposed image of parts of a human or animal body in rock. They occur all over the world, often functioning as an important form of symbolism, used in religious and secular ceremonies, such as the crowning of kings. Some are regarded as artefacts linked to saints or culture heroes. (wiki)
Many examples of petrosomatoglyphs are likely to be natural in origin, such as rock-cut basins in rivers; however, they still have relevance, as they have often become associated with Saints, legendary figures, fairies, etc. Some may be man-made, but have been reinterpreted as petrosomatoglyphs by the original function being forgotten. (wiki)
However, the wonder and awesomeness of Eruwa petrosomatoglyph lies in the fact they they are they are 200 exactly. The foot print is exactly two hundred in numbers and this has eriee import, especially within Yorùbá system of belief and cosmology.
It is strange and frightened when you consider that our ancestors claimed some 200 Irúnmọlẹ̀ landed on a waterfilled earth at a spot call Ifẹ Oòdáyé, the location of which could not be ascertain again. However, lore has it that the Irúnmọlẹ̀ were 200 and 1 hundred in number, some claimed they were 400 and 1.
Eerily again, it is written in the Book of Enoch that 200 angels, referred to as “Watchers,” descended to Earth and took human wives, thus defying divine orders. 200 Irúnmọlẹ̀s and 200 angels – any correlation?
The questions are: could this be the landing spot and Ifẹ Oòdáyé actually encompasses the whole of Yorùbáland? Perhaps angels are the people proto-Yorùbás referred to as Irúnmọlẹ̀ and they arrived here in two batches of 200 individuals stepping on the same spots those before them stepped? Perhaps, the last of them did not step on the Terra firma of the earth that’s why we could only see 200 footprints of Eruwa?
Whatever the case may be, all these should fan the imagination of our fiction writers and movie makers. Let all these be infused in movies produced in Yorùbá land and see how it will boost our tourism.
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