Indonesian tribal peoples view the cosmos as comprising of three levels: an upper world of the good spirits, a middle world of man, and an underworld inhabited by malevolent spirits. This sculptural element has an interesting mix of lower and middle world symbols. The lower world symbol is the naga or snake, which is also regarded as such in many other Indonesian tribal cultures. The monkey, a resourceful animal, is viewed as symbol of the middle world and an auspicious totem to empower and protect the clan.