Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Cylinder vessel with Moon Goddess and other celestial beings
Not on view
Holding a rabbit in front of her, the Moon Goddess presides over an assembly of four lunar gods, who are perhaps related to the moon’s phases, with crescent-shaped moon signs hooked under their arms. The scene is likely related to myths that explained why there is a rabbit in the moon, which involve salacious tales of the rabbit’s trickery. Here, the rabbit has taken the clothes of a powerful merchant god, who kneels humbly before the goddess.
Vasija cilíndrica con la diosa de la luna y otras deidades
México o Guatemala
Siglo VII al VIII
Cerámica
Sosteniendo un conejo entre sus manos, la diosa de la luna preside una reunión con cuatro dioses, tal vez relacionados con las fases de la luna, quienes llevan signos lunares curvos detrás de sus brazos. Probablemente, la escena esté relacionada con la explicación del porqué en la luna vive un conejo. Se trata de historias pícaras sobre las aventuras de un conejo tramposo. Aquí, el conejo ha tomado las ropas de un poderoso dios mercader, quien se halla hincado humildemente ante la diosa.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
