Seated Figure
Mexico, Oaxaca, Zapotec style · 300 BCE–700 CE (thermoluminescence date, 285 BCE–515 CE) · Cleveland Museum of Art
Guide
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From the museum
The most famous Zapotec tomb ceramics are elaborate figural urns flanked by smaller, simpler companions similar to this one. Like other companions, this example probably belonged to a set of nearly identical figures; two others remain in Mexico. The identity of ceramic tomb figures-whether elite humans, royal ancestors, or deities-is still debated. The Zapotec developed one of Mesoamerica’s earliest writing systems, evidenced by the hieroglyphs on the headdress and chest. These are the names of calendar days, "13 Water" and "13 Flint Knife," respectively. Because people were named after the day on which they were born, one hieroglyph may identify the figure.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0
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Details
- Maker
- Mexico, Oaxaca, Zapotec style
- Date
- 300 BCE–700 CE (thermoluminescence date, 285 BCE–515 CE)
- Medium
- ceramic, slip
- Dimensions
- Overall: 32.2 x 17.9 x 18.8 cm (12 11/16 x 7 1/16 x 7 3/8 in.)
- Place of origin
- Mexico
- Held by
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · On view · 233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region
- Credit line
- Gift of the Hanna Fund
Image: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0