The left side indeed displays Mesoamerican fertility symbols that identify the Great Goddess, such as birds and their eggs, a large left breast, and a woman’s flanged skirt. The right arm and breast exhibit male ritual scarification, but there are no direct references to the Old Fire God. Other distinctions between the two sides are clearly made: the iris of the right eye is unpainted and the right chest has a ruddy flesh tone, whereas the left iris is painted white and the left chest is cream color. The exact function of Classic period (A.D. 200–900) monumental ceramic figures from central Veracruz remains in doubt because so few have been excavated in situ by archaeologists.

from Snite Museum of Art, Selected Works: Snite Museum of Art (Notre Dame, 2005)