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7.10: Chac Mool

  • Page ID
    359646

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    A stone sculpture of a reclining figure with a stylized face, dated between 900-1300 CE.

    Artist: Unknown
    Medium: Stone sculpture
    Art Historical Time Period: Mesoamerican (c. 900–1200 CE)

    Chac Mool is a type of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican stone statue depicting a reclining figure with its head turned to one side and a bowl or disk on its stomach. These statues are found in various sites, including Chichen Itza and Tula.

    Chac Mool is important to its culture as it is believed to represent a messenger to the gods, often associated with sacrificial offerings. The statues were placed in temples and ceremonial spaces, where they played a role in religious rituals. Chac Mool is also important to world culture as it provides insights into the religious practices and artistic traditions of Mesoamerican civilizations. Understanding Chac Mool helps us appreciate the cultural significance of religious artifacts and the ways in which they convey spiritual beliefs and practices.

    Student Authors

    • Natalia Cortez ’24 and Javier Bravo ’22

    References and Image Attribution

    • Miller, Mary Ellen. The Art of Mesoamerica: From Olmec to Aztec. Thames & Hudson, 2012.
    • Pasztory, Esther. Teotihuacan: An Experiment in Living. University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.
    • Image: “Chac-Mool from Inside the Venus Platform, Chichen Itza, 900-1250” via Wikimedia Commons by Gary Todd, licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. Modified from original

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