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Sandstone seated figure of the god Mictlantecuhtli, associated with death; Aztec,Mexico, 1325-1521. Mictlantecuhtli inhabited the lowest of the nine levels of the Underworld. The soul of the deceased went to a particular level according to the circumstances of their death. Those who died of natural causes went to the ninth level and had to negotiate all sorts of obstacles to reach it. Ethno,1849.6-29.2
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Sandstone seated figure of the god Mictlantecuhtli, associated with death; Aztec...

Detail of a turquois mosaic of a double-headed serpent, Aztec/Mixtec. It is carved in wood and covered with turquois mosaic. The eye sockets were probably inlaid with iron pyrites and shell. This ornment was probablyworn as a pectoral on ceremonial occasions. The serpent played a very important role in Aztec religion. Ethno, 1894-634
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Detail of a turquois mosaic of a double-headed serpent, Aztec/Mixtec. It is carv...

Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca, one of the Aztec creator gods, also the god of rulers, warriors and sorcerers. Alternate bands of turquoise and lignite cover a human skull. The jew is moveable and hinged with leather. The eyes are made of two disks of iron pyrite set in rings of shell. Turquoise was sent as tribute to the Aztec capital from several provinces of the empire. Ethno, ST 401
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Mosaic mask of Tezcatlipoca, one of the Aztec creator gods, also the god of rule...

Cast gold pendant of a winged shaman, from Popayán, Colombia, 100-1500. The figure on this pendant combines human attributes with the outstretched wings of a bird. These elements allude to shamanic powers of flight. After careful ritual preparations, the shaman ingests powerful hallucinogens which release his soul and enables him to 'fly' into other dimensions of the cosmos. Under the influence of such substances, the shaman believes that he can transform himself into an animal or bird and assume its powers and attributes.The Spanish chronicles and documents of the colonial period record the use of hallucinogenic drugs by the people inhabiting the northern Andes including Colombia.This pendant was cast in tumbaga, an alloy of gold and copper, using the lost-wax technique. Ethno, +5803
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Cast gold pendant of a winged shaman, from Popayán, Colombia, 100-1500. The figu...

Cast gold lime-flask of a seated female from Colombia, Quimbaya, c600-c1100 AD. The cast gold lime-flasks made by the Quimbaya culture are wonderful examples of the astonishing virtuosity achieved by pre-Columbian artisans. Various types of Quimbaya gold artefacts were adorned with human figures, which were sometimes portrayed wearing lime-flasks hanging from their neck. The flasks held lime obtained from burning and grinding seashells and the alkaline lime was chewed with coca leaves to release their active stimulant and enhance clear, contemplative thinking. This lime-flask was cast by the lost-wax method. Ethno, 1940.Am11.2
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Cast gold lime-flask of a seated female from Colombia, Quimbaya, c600-c1100 AD....

Stone bust of Quetzalcoatl, Aztec, from Mexico, 1325-1521. This sculpture represents the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. His name in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs, means Feathered (quetzal feather) Serpent. The serpent's coils of the sculpture are covered with feathers and the face of the god (or an impersonation) emerges wearing the curved shell ear ornaments characteristic of representations of this god.The cult of Quetzalcoatl was widespread throughout Mesoamerica, although it was known by different names at different periods. While his various aspects and origins are far from clear, Quetzalcoatl is said to have been one of the Aztec creator gods. According to the Aztec creation myth there were four suns or worlds before the present one, each of them created and destroyed in a different way. When the fourth sun was destroyed by floods the gods decided to create a new one. To create a new race of humans, Quetzalcoatl descended to the lower levels of the Underworld. He managed to trick Mictlantecuhtli and retrieved the bones of the people of the fourth sun. With those bones and some of his blood he gave life to the humans that inhabited the present world. Ethno, 1825.12-10.11
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Stone bust of Quetzalcoatl, Aztec, from Mexico, 1325-1521. This sculpture repres...

Pre-Columbian pottery figurine seated with legs crossed and wearing helmet. Chorrera culture. Ecuador; around 1200-500 BCE.
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Pre-Columbian pottery figurine seated with legs crossed and wearing helmet. Chor...

Stone stele depicting Mayan ruler "Kan Boar" ( K'an-Ak, 458-486) holding staff or spear. Maya classic era. Tikal, Guatemala; 5th century BCE.
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Stone stele depicting Mayan ruler "Kan Boar" ( K'an-Ak, 458-486) holding staff o...

Stone stele depicting Mayan ruler Stormy Sky II (Siyaj Chan K'awiil II, 411-456) holding chain. Maya classic era. Tikal, Guatemala; 5th century BCE.
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Stone stele depicting Mayan ruler Stormy Sky II (Siyaj Chan K'awiil II, 411-456...

Stone carving with Maya script inscriptions from Tikal. The Maya script, commonly known as Maya hieroglyphs, was the writing system of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica. Maya classic era. Tikal, Guatemala; 5th century BCE.
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Stone carving with Maya script inscriptions from Tikal. The Maya script, common...

Stone carving with a depiction of what is believed to be rain god Tlaloc. Maya classic era. Tikal, Guatemala; 5th century BCE.
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Stone carving with a depiction of what is believed to be rain god Tlaloc. Maya c...

Quipu or khipu - A system of knotted cords used by the Incas and its predecessor societies in the Andean region to store massive amounts of information important to their culture and civilization. Inca culture; Peru; 15th-16th century CE.
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Quipu or khipu - A system of knotted cords used by the Incas and its predecess...