Ceremonial Hacha in the Form of a Monkey's Head Item Number: 59.237.2 from the Brooklyn Museum
Description
Ceremonial hacha in the form of a monkey's head with tongue hanging down and a scroll-like adornment on the head. Perforations at corners of mouth. Condition: good; chips at top back, two suspension holes broken, and small chip on top of forehead.
Credit Line
By exchange
Label
U-shaped objects termed “yokes” by archaeologists are representations in stone of belts worn around a ball player’s hips. This example is decorated with symbolic images alluding to death, such as the human skeleton. The frog’s head at the front references the watery realm of the underworld. The hacha (literally, “axe,” for its resemblance to an axe head) was worn on the front of the belt. The monkey head may symbolize one of the half brothers of the Hero Twins of the Popol Vuh.
Objetos en forma de “U”, llamados “yugos” por los arqueólogos, son representaciones en piedra de los cinturones llevados en las caderas por los jugadores de pelota. Este ejemplo está decorado con imágenes simbólicas alusivas a la muerte, como el esqueleto humano. La cabeza de rana en la parte frontal hace referencia al reino acuático del inframundo. El hacha (llamada así por su semejanza a la cabeza de un hacha) se usaba al frente del cinturón. La cabeza de mono puede simbolizar a uno de los medios hermanos de los Héroes Gemelos del Popol Vuh.
Item History
- Made between 700 and 900
What
Who
- Culture
- Classic Veracruz
Where
- Holding Institution
- Brooklyn Museum
When
- Creation Date
- between 700 and 900
Other
- Location
- Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor
- Classification
- Sculpture