Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice

between 250 and 950

Veracruz, Precolumbian

On View

Native American, Level 1, South Wing

Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice

Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice: 1 of Collection Gallery

Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice: 2 of Collection Gallery

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

This Palma is a replica in stone of a piece of palm worn as protective gear around the waist of the players in a ritual ball game played between two teams representing the dualistic cosmic forces of the universe. The captain of the losing team was killed as a sacrifice to placate the gods and to assure the continuing fertility of the land. Here a monkey-headed god stands on the chest of a sacrificial victim. Behind him are stalks of corn, the staple food of ancient Mexico.

Title Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice

Artwork Date between 250 and 950

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Precolumbian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Veracruz

Medium Basalt

Dimensions Overall: 19 1/8 × 8 1/2 × 4 1/2 inches (48.6 × 21.6 × 11.4 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Indigenous Americas

Credit City of Detroit Purchase

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 47.180

Markings

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Provenance

1947-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Provenance page

Exhibition History

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Published References

Bulletin of the DIA 29, no. 3 (1949-50): 56-58, (ill. p. 57).

100 Masterworks from the Detroit Institute of Arts. New York, 1985, pp. 84-85 (ill.).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Veracruz, Precolumbian, Palma with Maize God Receiving a Human Sacrifice, between 250 and 950, basalt. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 47.180.