Face Ornaments of Quetzalcoatl
These eye and mouth ornaments together form a face mask that was likely used in rituals. Forked-tongue serpents with pointed, feathered plumes curve over each eye ring. Often called by its Nahuatl name, Quetzalcoatl, or its Yukatek name, Kukulkan, the feathered serpent was one of Chichen Itza’s principal deities and appears in many places on the city’s monumental architecture. Individuals wearing face ornaments like these are also depicted in artwork at Chichen Itza.
Estos adornos para ojos y boca forman una máscara facial que era probablemente utilizada en rituales. Sobre cada anillo (los ojos) se curvan serpientes de lenguas bífidas con plumas puntiagudas. Comúnmente llamado por su nombre náhuatl, Quetzalcóatl, o su nombre Yucateca, Kukulkan, la serpiente emplumada era una de las principales deidades de Chichen Itzá y estaba ampliamente representada en la arquitectura monumental de la ciudad. Los personajes que vestían adornos similares están representados en las obras de arte de Chichen Itzá.
Estos adornos para ojos y boca forman una máscara facial que era probablemente utilizada en rituales. Sobre cada anillo (los ojos) se curvan serpientes de lenguas bífidas con plumas puntiagudas. Comúnmente llamado por su nombre náhuatl, Quetzalcóatl, o su nombre Yucateca, Kukulkan, la serpiente emplumada era una de las principales deidades de Chichen Itzá y estaba ampliamente representada en la arquitectura monumental de la ciudad. Los personajes que vestían adornos similares están representados en las obras de arte de Chichen Itzá.
Artwork Details
- Title: Face Ornaments of Quetzalcoatl
- Date: 800–1100 CE
- Geography: Mexico, Yucatan
- Culture: Maya
- Medium: Gold
- Dimensions: Mouth: 2 15/16 × 5 13/16 × 1/16 in. (7.4 × 14.8 × 0.1 cm)
Right eye: 6 1/4 × 5 5/16 × 1/16 in. (15.9 × 13.5 × 0.1 cm)
Left eye: 6 5/16 × 5 3/8 × 1/16 in. (16.1 × 13.6 × 0.1 cm) - Classifications: Metalwork-Ornaments, Gold
- Credit Line: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Peabody Museum Expedition, 1907–1910 (10-71-20/C7678, 10-71-20/C7679.1-.2)
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
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