Benin ancestral altar tusks were carved out to figures, animals and motifs. In the center of this tusk are the oba (king) and his attendants. Benin was ruled by kings, called obas, who were absolute monarchs, considered to be of divine ancestry. The Oba is shown with the legs of a mudfish, emphasizing his divine powers of transformation and survival. Aspects of the mudfish appear several times around the tusk. This catfish-like creature can be found in mucky rivers of southern Nigeria. It is often linked to the mystical powers of the oba. These kinds of images conveyed a coded message that was intended more for the ancestors than for the relatively few living people who were allowed to view the altars. Some altar tusks were supported by cast
