Sometime around 500 A.D. marked the
emergence of a special-purpose grinding stone
(metate), made primarily for use in burial
chambers. Over the years they became more
elaborate and their purpose more extensive,
often used to grind corn or herbs for drugs. The
metate's importance grew in stature to become
the most crucial ritual item; and some of them,
most likely the circular variety, may have been
used as sacrificial altars. This fascinating metate
shows the art form at a high level- both as a
ritual article and a beautiful example of the
stonecutter's artistry. Perceived strictly as an
aesthetic object, this metate is a paradigm of
beautiful harmony, perfect balance, and elegant
form. The circular top, edged in a broad
meander pattern, may represent the heavens,
while the lower thick ring base is the
underworld. Between the two, and supporting
the celestial realm, are three very impressive
shamans wearing jaguar masks. Each figure is
highly ornamented with ritual tattooing on the
chest and legs. Those on the forearm mirror the
pattern on the upper rim. These shamans are
naked, wearing only three thick bracelets on
each wrist. Their jaguar masks reveal exposed
teeth in a formidable grin, challenging the spirits
of the supernatural realm. The jaguar was
regarded with awe, and used to symbolize a
creature with power in both the physical and
non-physical realms. Shamans were reputed to
be able to turn themselves into jaguars, and may
have performed in ritual ceremonies just as we
see them here. To come into contact with
something so powerful brings us very close to
esoteric rituals long forgotten in living memory;
but still alive and vital within the dynamic
revolving movement of this fabulous metate.
- (PF.4337)
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