Colima Dogs Ceramic Ancient

Dogs were generally believed in mesoamerican cultures to represent soul guides of the dead and several dog ceramics wear human masks.

Colima dogs ceramic ancient. 3 the body type reflected in the art institute s example would seem ideal for maximum protein yield for minimum calorie investment. The ancient artists of west mexico excelled at distorting anatomical parts of the body along with animals and plants for maximum aesthetic effect. They were made in what is called the comala style from maybe a few centuries bc until perhaps as late as ad 1 000 in west mexico. These colima hollow ceramic dogs are the oldest and most enigmatic canine effigies found in north america.

Made of terracotta clay and fired it represents one of the native hairless dogs of the region and was intended for multiple uses. Clay and ceramic effigies of xolos date back over 3000 years and have been discovered in the tombs of the toltec aztec mayan zapoteca and colima indians. In the ancient west mexican colima culture of about 2 000 years ago we find ceramic dog figures in 75 90 of the shaft tombs. Ceramic dogs are widely known from looted tombs in colima.

Fat colima dog with corn. Masks are an integral part of many ritual dances the spanish word is danza for ceremonial dances. Masks are part of the christmas pastorelas depicting the devil the hermit and sin dressed in red satin. My favorite is a statue of a dog wearing a human mask created about 300 a d and found near colima.

The ceramic dog figure figure 1 comes from the west mexican site of colima during the late formative period 300 bc 300 ad. The xolo held a place of special religious significance for many ancient cultures. Boy holding dog and dog with food bowl holding an ear of corn. A dog eat dog world.

Mexicans love wearing masks. Nonetheless it should also be noted that dogs were often the major source of animal protein in ancient mesoamerica. The dance of the old men is performed on many festive. The canine figurines of mesoamerican colima the ceramics of west mexico were very different from contemporary civilizations.

Unknown colima maker west mexico large dog figure 250 bce 250 ce. Burnished low fire ceramic earthenware with black and red pigments and manganese oxide residue 11 3 4 x 17 x 8 in.