Boes, Merdules and Filonzana in Ottana

Ottana · Sardinia

The tradition and its place

Ottana’s carnival stages an uneasy relationship between animal and human. The Boes wear bovine masks and bells; the Merdules guide or struggle with them. The Filonzana, a black-clad figure with a spindle, adds an image of time and fate to the procession. The drama happens through movement, costume and encounters in the street.

Reading the evidence

It is reasonable to explore the meanings of domestication and the turning year, but no single ancient interpretation explains every role. The costumes are maintained within a named community, not a generic “pagan Sardinia.” Observe the event through its performers and local associations rather than reducing a complex performance to a mystical photograph.

Another angle

Filonzana’s spindle makes it tempting to attach every story about fate to the figure. First ask how local performers describe her and whether that account changes across generations. A living carnival may hold more than one interpretation at the same time.