What do you see in this carved stone? A bird? A jaguar? A skull? Try turning your head sideways.
This carved stone is called a hacha. Depending on how you look at it, it shows a skull, a bird of prey, and a jaguar. Together they stand for the three realms of the Maya world: death and the underworld, life and the land of the living, and the heavens of the ancestors and gods.
Maya, Guatemala, about 550 to 900 CE. Archaeologists believe this type marked a ballcourt.
There is a snake hiding in this stone. Can you find the head? Where is the mouth?
People in ancient Mesoamerica saw the serpent as a magical animal, because it can renew itself by shedding its skin. It lived among the living, but it could also enter the earth, the realm of the dead. The serpent stands for rebirth, regeneration, and transformation. This kind of hacha was probably attached to a yoke to deflect the rubber ball in the ballgame.
Maya, Guatemala, about 600 to 900 CE. About 7 inches tall.
What animal is this carved stone head? Hint: look at the snout, pointing to the right.
This is the head of a macehead, a ceremonial weapon that was a symbol of power. The dog could stand for food, companionship, and warmth, or for a guide to the underworld. The underside has two horned frogs, which stand for renewal, change, and transformation.
Shaft Tomb culture, Colima, Mexico, about 2,000 years old. Only 3 inches high.
How many legs does this bird seem to have?
The harpy eagle is the largest bird of prey in Mexico and Central America. It is powerful and fast enough to fly through the jungle canopy and catch a monkey! People admired that power. This pot is an eagle effigy vessel, shaped like the bird. It stands on two legs and a flat tail.
Eastern Nahua, Cholula, Mexico, about 1250 to 1521 CE. Almost 12 inches tall.