Warrior Figure
1 of 3
Object Label
Symbols of death adorn this sculpture of a Huastec warrior. His earplugs, nose rod, and pointed cap signify his status. He wears evidence of his reputation; human skulls adorn his skirt. He once carried a spear to complement the hunting pouch in his left hand. In contrast, sculptures memorializing Konso warriors (like that at center) and demonstrating their might were grouped with additional sculptures of weapons, slain animals, and defeated foes. Combined with his fearsome bead-and-human-heart necklace, Huastec viewers would have realized this figure probably represented Micoatl-Camaxtle, god of hunting and warfare.
Caption
Huastec. Warrior Figure, ca. 1440–1521. Sandstone, 65 3/16 x 14 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. (165.6 x 37.5 x 19.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 39.371. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.371_bw.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Warrior Figure
Date
ca. 1440–1521
Geography
Place made: Xico Viejo, Veracruz, Mexico
Medium
Sandstone
Classification
Dimensions
65 3/16 x 14 3/4 x 7 1/2 in. (165.6 x 37.5 x 19.1 cm)
Credit Line
Frank L. Babbott Fund
Accession Number
39.371
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
Frequent Art Questions
What culture is this from?
This is one of our Huastec sculptures. The Huastec are an indigenous people of eastern Mexico. Judging from archeological remains, this culture may date back to the 10th century BCE, with a highly productive period from around the 6th century BCE through the rise of the Aztec empire in the 15th century CE.
Have information?
Have information about an artwork? Contact us at