Classic Veracruz. <em>Ceremonial Hacha in the Form of a Monkey's Head</em>, 700–900. Stone, 7 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 4 in. (18.4 x 16.5 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.2.jpg)

Classic Veracruz. Ceremonial Hacha in the Form of a Monkey's Head, 700–900. Stone, 7 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 4 in. (18.4 x 16.5 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.2.jpg)

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What is this made of?

The hacha is made of stone. I'm not sure what kind of stone, but I think it is limestone.

This is a stone version of something that a man would wear while playing the Ballgame.

What ball games did they play?

We assume that they played one ball game that we see depicted over and over again in wall reliefs and other archaeological remains.

It resembles soccer! It was played on an I shaped court and the objective was to get rubber balls through stone carved hoops on the sides of the court. The game also served a ritual purpose. It was a reenactment of the world's creation. In their creation story Hero Twins journey to the underworld and defeat the lords of death in a ballgame. It has also been interpreted as a reenactment of warfare in which the losers are sacrificed to the gods.

What kind of ball did they use to play the game?

The balls were made from a natural rubber! They were extremely heavy and players had to wear a lot of padding to protect themselves. This stone piece represents a real piece of athletic gear that would have protected the hip and been made of leather or plant materials.

Ceremonial Hacha in the Form of a Monkey's Head

Arts of the Americas

U-shaped objects termed “yokes” by archaeologists are representations in stone of belts worn around a ball player’s hips. This example is decorated with symbolic images alluding to death, such as the human skeleton. The frog’s head at the front references the watery realm of the underworld. The hacha (literally, “axe,” for its resemblance to an axe head) was worn on the front of the belt. The monkey head may symbolize one of the half brothers of the Hero Twins of the Popol Vuh.

Objetos en forma de “U”, llamados “yugos” por los arqueólogos, son representaciones en piedra de los cinturones llevados en las caderas por los jugadores de pelota. Este ejemplo está decorado con imágenes simbólicas alusivas a la muerte, como el esqueleto humano. La cabeza de rana en la parte frontal hace referencia al reino acuático del inframundo. El hacha (llamada así por su semejanza a la cabeza de un hacha) se usaba al frente del cinturón. La cabeza de mono puede simbolizar a uno de los medios hermanos de los Héroes Gemelos del Popol Vuh.

CULTURE Classic Veracruz

MEDIUM Stone

Place Found: Veracruz, Mexico

DATES 700–900

PERIOD Post Classic

DIMENSIONS 7 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 4 in. (18.4 x 16.5 x 10.2 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 59.237.2

CREDIT LINE By exchange

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Ceremonial hacha in the form of a monkey's head with tongue hanging down and a scroll-like adornment on the head. Perforations at corners of mouth. Condition: good; chips at top back, two suspension holes broken, and small chip on top of forehead.

EXHIBITIONS

Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Classic Veracruz. Ceremonial Hacha in the Form of a Monkey's Head, 700–900. Stone, 7 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 4 in. (18.4 x 16.5 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 59.237.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.237.2.jpg)

IMAGE front, 59.237.2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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