Zapotec God Cocijo Monte Alban Mexico 450-650 Ad

Magnificent urn modeled with the god of lightning and rain, Cocijo. He is seated cross-legged in a hieratic position. His head is covered with a crown with a circular band displaying a diadem symbolizing a stylized head of Puma or Ocelot (according to legend the Zapotecs are the descendants of these animals). This headband maintains exotic feathers arranged in a fan (it is very likely that these feather crowns were worn by nobles, considered by the people to be representatives of the gods on earth). His nose is covered with an ornament typical of this god, in the shape of a feline muzzle, his ears are decorated with large circular ornaments called "tambas". He wears a huipil on his chest and a rich necklace with a spectacular pendant evoking the Glyph probably of rain or lightning. The Zapotecs like their neighbors the Mayans had a writing system made up of glyphs or ideograms not deciphered to this day. Cocijo is one of the two main deities with Coquihani god of light, numerous ceremonies were dedicated to him, these were intended to honor him to collect these benefits on agricultural work and harvests. These urns were not made to keep the ashes of an ancestor but to adorn niches arranged at each cardinal corner in a rectangular niche. Many examples of urns of this type were discovered, this work is distinguished by its size, its state of preservation, its origin and the richness of its iconography. Beige and brown Zapotec terracotta, Monte Alban IIIA, classical period 250 to 700 AD 26.5 X 26.5 X 15 cm Provenance: former Samuel Dubiner collections 1960, 1970. (many objects from the Dubiner collection were exhibited at the Bezalel Museum of Jerusalem in 1960 and at the National Museum of Tokyo in 1961) then Barry Kermerman, Toronto Sold with certificate of authenticity from expert Serge Reynes.