PEYEM, the giant lizard

Citation

David Jabin, “PEYEM, the giant lizard,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/222.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : PEYEM, the giant lizard

  • Creator : David Jabin

  • Contributor(s) : Elsa de Unruh, village of Belen, Yalve Sanga , Central Chaco, Paraguay

  • Date : 2019-2020


  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    This string figure represents a top view of the giant lizard commonly called teju guasu  in guarani language. Although it is currently rare around the indigenous communities, it is a game appreciated by the hunters of Chaco.
    This is a dorsal view of the animal which does not allow to see the legs. From one hand to the other the patterns represent the head (triangular part), the back and the tail of the animal.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Opening A.
    2. R12 seize L1f and L2n to transfer L1 and L2 loops respectively to L2 and L3. Same with opposite hand.
    3. R1 and R2 seize L5f to release L5 loop, twist it 180° anticlockwise and transfer it to L15. Same with opposite hand.
    4. Exchange L23 loops with R23
    5. Distally, insert R12 in L3 loop, seize L5n, release L5 loop and insert it proximally into L3 loop (R12 are still seizing the former L5 loop).
    6. Distally, insert R12 in L3 loop, seize L1f to release L1 loop and insert it proximally into L2 loop.
    7. R12 transfer the two loops to teeth and release.
    8. Release L23 loops.
    9. Repeat step 5 to 8 with opposite hand.
    10. Transfer the two loops seized by L12 to R12 and then, the two loops seized by the teeth to L12.
    11. Rotate the all figure 90° clockwise.
    12. Insert L1 and L5 into the two right loops from right to left. Same with opposite hand.
    13. Extend.
  • Item references

  • Key words : String figures, Enlhet, paraguayan Chaco

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, mp4, text

  • Language : Enlhet, spanish

  • Location : Village of Belen, Yalve Sanga , Central Chaco, Paraguay, South America

  • Description : Enlhet string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

Output Formats