The Dogon doors portray ancestral figures to protect the people and properties inside. The figural imagery serve to keep evil spirits at bay and offer protection from worldly and unworldly sources of harm. The door latch is surmounted by one or two larger figures who are members of the famed founding primordial couple. Other themes include but are not limited to village scenes, warriors on horseback, animal figures, gecko lizards which represent luck, large crocodiles which denote power, turtles meaning intelligence, wisdom, prudence and patience and rows and rows of raised Dogon ancestor figures that all resemble each other.