Canthik: A Figurehead on Javanese Maritime Culture

Canthik: A Figurehead on Javanese Maritime Culture

Canthik, the Javanese figurehead, is one of maritime’s archaeological data that is seldom discussed. Less than five of them have been recorded in the archaeological record, and all are kept in the museums. One of these is currently stored in Museum Sonobudoyo, Yogyakarta. To date, the description of the object is limited to a decorated object that is placed on the stern of a boat. The canthik can, arguably, be removed from one boat’s extremity to the other, depends on which one serves as the bow. It has a form of a mythological creature and is believed to bring protection to navigation. This paper aims to discuss the function of the figurehead, as well as the symbol it represents since Canthik has always been regarded as a sacred object in the Javanese community.
This paper will further discuss what type of boat the figurehead is associated with and the kind of activities that these boats participated in. A comparison to figureheads from other regions, such as Europe, China, and Polynesia will be presented to explore possible answers to the aforementioned questions.

Ashar Murdihastomo

Ayu Dipta Kirana

Shinatria Adhityatama

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology

November 2021

English

Murdihastomo, Ashar, Ayu Dipta Kirana, and Shinatria Adhityatama. 2021. “Canthik: A Figurehead on Javanese
Maritime Culture.” Edited by Brian Fahy, Hans Van Tilburg, Bill Jeffery, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Riley Smith. In
Proceedings of Fourth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Keelung,Taiwan, and
Virtual, November 1-5, 2021. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology URL: https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/exhibits/show/apconf-muchproceedings/item/686

Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage