Pre-Columbian, Mayan Territories, Classic Period, ca. 250 to 900 CE. A beautiful dark green stone celt (hand axe) with an incised design of a human head wearing a serpent's head - or possibly being devoured by a serpent. The design is glyph-like, abstract, particularly in its use of lines to show the serpent's head. This may be a representation of a priest wearing a head meant to symbolize Kukulkan, the "Plumed Serpent" or "Feathered Serpent", the snake deity who has many parallels in other Mesoamerican cultures. The cult of Kukulkan was centered on the city of Chichen Itza. The name of Kukulkan also came to be the name of a ruler or priest who lived at that city around the 10th century CE. The figure depicted here is either a noble or a priest, taking the power of the serpent god to give himself authority. This ceremonial weapon was made to further reinforce the power of this person, and would have been carried during rituals and probably buried with its noble owner. The fact that it is made of such a deep green stone further indicates the nobility of its former owner - in ancient Mesoamerica, green stones were more valuable than gold. Size: 2.4" W x 2.1" H (6.1 cm x 5.3 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, IL, acquired prior to 1970.

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#118692

Slight signs of wear and chipping to surface; design extremely clear