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Bicephalic Figure in Enclosure
Not on view
The Muisca, who inhabited the Eastern Cordillera region of Colombia at the time of the Spanish Conquest, placed metalwork votive figures in baskets or ceramic vessels and then deposited them in lakes, caves, and fields, and on mountaintops, as offerings to divine powers. Indeed, the myth of El Dorado was inspired by accounts of gold offerings made in the depths of Lake Guatavita by the Muisca people. Here, one cacique (male lord) is carried on a litter by two attendants. Another lord (with two heads) is seated in an enclosure, also accompanied by two attendants. Muisca metalworkers preferred to leave these votives unpolished.
Los Muiscas, habitantes de la región Este de la cordillera colombiana en los tiempos de la Conquista española, solían colocar figuras votivas de metal en canastas o en vasijas de cerámica y depositarlas luego en lagos, cuevas, campos y cimas de montañas como ofrendas a los poderes divinos. Así, el mito de El Dorado se inspiró de informes que reportaban la existencia de ofrendas de oro hechas en las profundidades del Lago Guatavita por los muiscas. Aquí, dos ayudantes cargan a un cacique en una litera. Otro cacique con dos cabezas está sentado en un recinto también acompañado por dos ayudantes. Los orfebres preferían no pulir estas figuras votivas.
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