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they went to obtain spices. Both have been differentiated in the representation in the 2022 Landing, as they have different characteristics and are different parts of the whole.
Tidore and Ternate
When the Magellan-Elcano expedition, led by the latter after Magellan’s death, arrived they were received by Sultan Almanzor, the leader of the island. The expedition's chronicler, Antonio de Pigafetta, described the sultan's clothing:
"His clothes consisted of a very fine shirt with sleeves embroidered in gold; a cloth covered him from the waist down to his feet; a silk veil was wrapped around his head, and over the veil, a garland of flowers."
Antonio de Pigafetta
In the representation of the 2022 Landing, for the first time the three Moluccans who arrived at the port with the expedition have been represented. They have been treated as ambassadors of their country, and their costumes have been designed according to a high status, without being that of Sultan Almanzor.
In addition to the fabrics and embroidery described by Pigafetta, elements have been added to cover the heads of the three islanders, as the dominant religion in the area at the time was Muslim, and it was essential that the head was covered.
India
Once the Spice Islands were left behind, Elkano's ship set sail towards home, navigating westward once again. On this daring and unknown journey, the ship tried to avoid land to avoid being sighted by the Portuguese, so the journey was made far from the terrestrial areas of the Asian continent. India has been chosen to represent the continent, as it was one of the most important territories for the Portuguese, who were fighting for oceanic hegemony directly with Spain, and because it was a land that Magellan saw on many of his expeditions in the service of the Portuguese crown.
To represent this country, the Hindu aesthetic has been chosen, which is the one that people can most identify and relate to with the Asian continent. For men, similar clothing to what Pigafetta describes in his testimony has been chosen, as they are similar garments to those found in illustrations of the time in India. For women, the Sari has been chosen. Sari means "strip of cloth" in Sanskrit, although for many it is more than just a simple garment, it is a symbol of national pride, an ambassador of national design and craftsmanship.
Among the techniques for wearing a Sari is the ubiquitous Nivi (pleated, wrapped around the waist, with the pallu, or decorated end of the garment, hanging over the left shoulder) and the rural Dharampur, which skillfully transforms a long rectangle of material into knee-length trousers. Most presentations of saris require a choli (a kind of crop top) and a mid-height petticoat. The latter usually supports the placement of the fabric and helps manipulate the fabric. Some sari folds have to be held with stitches or pins, while others are more free, like a kind of origami for the body.
