Artist:Huastec
Medium: Sandstone
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:ca. 1440–1521
Dimensions: 65 3/16 x 14 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. (165.6 x 37.5 x 19.1 cm)
Collections:
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 39.371
Image: 39.371_bw.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Carved stone figure of a man standing on a pedestal. Distinct conical headdress below which are bangs of braided rectangular tufts. Between waist and knees is a carved skirt. At top and bottom of skirt is a row of human skulls. On back of figure are carved streamers. Right arm, close to body, bends at elbow with hand at shoulder and may have held a spear. Left arm, also close to body, hangs down with hand holding a hunting bag. Front of skirt has section missing. Legs on figure were broken and repaired. The figure probably represents Mixcoatl-Camaxtle or "Cloud Serpent", the god of hunting and warfare. Attributes of Mixcoatl are: triangular diadem headdress and the two eagle feathers suspended from a ball or eagle down at the nape of the neck. Nose rod indicates warrior status. Earplugs representing stylized deer hoofs associate him with his companion animal, the deer. Necklace is made of beads and human hearts; belt is of skulls.