Marble
University of Notre Dame
Loading navigation...

Vessel with Preclassic Maize God

Date

1500-1300 BCE

Creator

Unrecorded Olmec artist

Location

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

The maize god is one of the most prominent Mesoamerican deities, with some version of the deity appearing in nearly every cultural area. This vessel features a carving of the Olmec Maize God with his cleft head representing the earth from which maize grows. The backwardly projecting cleft alludes to the young Maize God, referencing the flexible stage of tender growing corn. Many later maize deities, such as the Maya Maize God, directly stem from this Olmec god and emphasize the importance of maize as the sustainer of life.

Cite This
The maize god is one of the most prominent Mesoamerican deities, with some version of the deity appearing in nearly every cultural area. This vessel features a carving of the Olmec Maize God with his cleft head representing the earth from which maize grows. The backwardly projecting cleft alludes to the young Maize God, referencing the flexible stage of tender growing corn. Many later maize deities, such as the Maya Maize God, directly stem from this Olmec god and emphasize the importance of maize as the sustainer of life.
Open external viewer application
Unrecorded Olmec artist
1500-1300 BCE
Vessels
Slipped and incised ceramic
1999.019.011
Raclin Murphy Museum: 205
3 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 in. (7.95 x 7.95 x 7.94 cm)
J. Moore McDonough Endowment for Art of the Americas

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.