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Shaman statuette

Shaman statuette
Colima culture
Western Mexico
Pre-classical period 100 BC-250 AD.
AAM 00087.1.53 Royal museums of Art and History

Hollow ceramic with brick-red slip representing a shaman characterised by his horn, a symbol of strength. The Colima statuettes are distinguished by the complex ornamentation of the figures, whose hairstyles, jewellery and clothing appear to denote a fairly pronounced social hierarchy. These ceramics were deposited in the pit tombs of these cultures from western Mexico.

The shaman played an important role in these societies as he watched over the community and performed the essential ceremonies that ensured a good relationship with the deities. He therefore ensured a present and a future in harmony with the different levels of the cosmos. Thanks to psychotropic drugs, he could also travel through these worlds and predict the future. He also enabled the solar cycle, which was essential for these farming peoples.

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Royal museums of Art and History (KMKG-MRAH)