Rare anthropomorphic terracotta ring, the head adorned with - Lot 55

Rare anthropomorphic terracotta ring, the head adorned with two large circular earrings and a large headdress reminiscent of an eagle warrior or the deity Huitzilopochtli. Very fine patina. Dimensions: approx. 2 cm in diameter. Mexico, Teotihuacan culture, 15th century. Provenance: Private European collection. Notes Huitzilopochtli (literally "left hummingbird" meaning "resurrected warrior") is a deity of specifically Aztec origin, not borrowed from mythologies of other cultures. His name indicates that he is associated with all rites of war and death. Indeed, hummingbirds symbolize the souls of warriors who died in battle, accompanying the sun on its daily journey. These birds embody the souls of warriors who have died in battle or been sacrificed. Along with Tlaloc, this tribal god of war and the sun was the empire's most important deity, and his gigantic temple, the Templo Mayor, is located in the capital Tenochtitlan.