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Cruz del Milagro Monument 1 (El Príncipe)
Not on view
Nicknamed El Príncipe (the Prince), this basalt sculpture, with its rounded face, slightly parted lips, and squinting eyes, exemplifies the naturalistic Olmec figural style. The figure assumes the posture of a ruler: seated, with the torso leaning forward and fists resting in front of crossed legs. His headdress, carved to resemble knotted leather or textile, features a rectangular plaque. Cylindrical earspools likely represent elongated jade beads. Olmec rulers valued basalt and had either massive boulders or finished artworks transported from distant quarries, probably by floating them on rafts along rivers.
La cara redondeada, los labios ligeramente partidos y los ojos entrecerrados de esta escultura de basalto denominada "El Príncipe" muestran el estilo figurativo naturalista olmeca. La figura, sentada con el torso inclinado hacia adelante y con los puños delante de las piernas cruzadas, adopta una posición de gobernante. Su tocado, esculpido de manera a asemejarse a lana o textil anudado, presenta una placa rectangular. Las orejeras cilíndricas representan probablemente tubos de jade. Para los gobernantes olmecas, el basalto era un material de alto valor. Además, transportaban obras de arte masivas de canteras lejanas, probablemente en balsas y a través de los ríos.
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