The central figure is surrounded by a braided
rope-like border with four scrolls on each side.
Beautifully modeled double crocodile heads face
in opposite directions, a braided rope is tethered
from the mouths to the chests, attached to the
breastplate by a snake-head ornament similar to
the one over the groin area. The figure's knees
are bent, his feet have six toes made of twisted
wire, trapezoidal hands grip tightly to the
surrounding border. Extending from the ankles
and waist are two pairs of stylized crocodile
heads, composed of open work filigree for the
mouths, tiny eyes and inverted triangles
suggesting scuds. Though gold was
abundant in ancient Costa Rica, the highly skilled
artists needed to create work of arts as this one
were not plentiful. Such objects were made for
the ruling elite, either as symbols of prestige, of
status or simply as ornamentation. This pendant
probably served a shaman-priest who used the
crocodile as a symbol for physical strength and
otherworldly power. It is quite probable great
shamans wore such costumes as depicted on this
fabulous pendant in elaborate ritual ceremonies.
- (FJ.6422)
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