Tecpatl (Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the underworld)
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.Tecpatls, ritual knives, were considered alive, capable of representing and embodying the gods. Made of flint, a material associated with fire and lightning, they were given human features, such as eyes and teeth, before they were placed in offerings at the Templo Mayor. They were also painted with details suggesting the identities of specific deities.
Artwork Details
- Title: Tecpatl (Mictlantecuhtli, Lord of the underworld)
- Date: 1502-1520 CE
- Culture: Mexica (Aztec)
- Medium: Flint (silex), obsidian, pigments
- Dimensions: 2 3/4 × 5 7/8 in. (7 × 15 cm)
- Classification: Stone-Implements
- Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters
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