It is debatable which is more striking in the
Diquis pendants-- the artistry, the iconography,
or the gold! Certainly, all three elements blend
with such perfection that such an object as this
superb pendant can be considered a rare and
beautiful work of art. The meaning of the image
of a male wearing a jaguar mask is probably
related to a ritual context. He is naked except
for the belt around his waist and the straps
encircling his knees and ankles. It is known that
only members of the nobility were permitted to
ge without clothes. This man's elite status is also
indicated by the jaguar and monkey imagery,
since both animals were symbols of two clans
from which chiefs were chosen. His 'pigeon-
chest' suggests he is also a shaman or sercerer.
It is very likely we are witnessing a shaman/chief
involved in an elaborate ritual ceremony. The
stylized elements seen in the flat arms and coils
for hands and feet add a dramatic quality, and do
not take away from the realism. This
extraordinary pendant is both a symbol of
power, and a graceful expression of a
goldsmith's magnificent artistry.
- (FJ.6357)
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