Although seated, this warrior remains fierce and
ever vigilant with wide, open eyes. A suit of
armor replete with painted red stripes covers his
torso. The cylindrical armor completely
disguises the contours of his shoulders. He
brandishes a broad spear or club, again painted
red. Yet, the main feature of this sculpture is his
head, slightly elongated in typical Jalisco style.
He wears a helmet with two small pointed horns
similar to the ears of a feline. He wears red
earrings that have been engraved with vertical
parallel linear decorations and the area around
his eyes is covered with black, somewhat
reminiscent of a raccoon. Furthermore his
septum is pieced, featuring a circular loop. All
these details could very well symbolize his rank
and order like pins and medals do today. Yet
this warrior’s job was not to attack rival
civilizations or to defend his home city; he served
a greater purpose than the terrestrial battles that
plague this world. This warrior was a defender of
the afterlife, buried along the deceased to
frighten away malevolent spirits. Thus, he will
guard the tomb for all eternity, protecting the
dead from the unknown evil we all fear. Perhaps
this warrior can protect us in life as well as in
death.
- (PF.6055)
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