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Home > Art > Mezcala Temple

Mezcala Temple

Stone sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top, a staircase in the center, and circular indentation at the architrave.
Artist

Unknown Artist

Date

200 BCE–500 CE

Medium

Jadeite

Object Type

Sculpture

Dimensions

H- 5 1/3 x W- 3 1/4 x D- 1 1/4 in. (13 x 8.3 x 3.2 cm)

Collecting Area

Pre-Columbian

Credit Line

The Jan T. and Marica Vilcek Collection

Accession Number

2006.15.1

Copyright

© The Vilcek Foundation

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architecture figure jadeite Mezcala Mezcala-Chontal Sun Temple
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Stone sculpture of a four column temple with a reclining figure on the top, a staircase in the center, and circular indentation at the architrave.

About the Object

Mezcala temple or architectural models such as the work here were often carved from green and brown jadeite stone. It boasts stairs leading up to a platform with four columns hollowed out from the stone and then a second platform with the sun or another round object fashioned in relief. Finally, upon this platform is a Mezcala-style abstract human effigy figure. This figure has occasionally been interpreted as a “star gazer,” priest, or sacrificed individual.

 

Additional Information

The Mezcala-Chontal tradition arose in what is today the western Mexican state of Guerrero. Figures such as this were likely used in rituals connected to fertility, the life cycle, and journey of the afterlife as many of these objects are associated with burial sites of elite individuals. Given their treasured status, they could also have been prestige objects of exchange among elites.

[Throckmorton Fine Art, New York, NY];

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architecture figure jadeite Mezcala Mezcala-Chontal Sun Temple
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