AMONG THE EARLY HOMO SAPIENS that appeared out of Africa over 200,000 years ago, the groups that advanced furthest east are thought to have crossed the Eurasian continent to the Americas in waves some tens of thousands of years ago. By the time, Columbus reached this “new” continent in the 15th century, this part of the world had already seen for thousands of years the rise and fall of several highly advanced civilizations. While living symbiotically in nature, these cultures created sophisticated astrological concepts and architectural structures that evolved from technology dated to the Neolithic period.
This exhibition features over eighty magnificent jewels from various regions of the Americas covering Arizona to southern Peru and from a period spanning over three millenniums starting in the 18th century B.C. Enjoy the eternal light that was created from these ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.
The Olmec was one of the oldest civilizations of the Americas. The Olmec kings were both the most powerful men and the highest priests of their land. They wore such ritual masks as this and became one with the imaginative powers of nature. Carved on the obverse of this mask are images that symbolize spiritual power and the center of the universe. |
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Mask
Pyroxene with red pigment
Olmec Civilization
900-600 B.C.
Mexico |
The Olmec was one of the oldest civilizations of the Americas. The Olmec kings were both the most powerful men and the highest priests of their land. They wore such ritual masks as this and became one with the imaginative powers of nature. Carved on the obverse of this mask are images that symbolize spiritual power and the center of the universe.
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