Olmec. <em>Male Figurine</em>, ca. 800–500 BCE. Jadeite, cinnabar, 2 x 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 x 1.9 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin, 51.197.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 51.197.2_bw.jpg)

Olmec. Male Figurine, ca. 800–500 BCE. Jadeite, cinnabar, 2 x 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 x 1.9 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin, 51.197.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 51.197.2_bw.jpg)

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Could you tell me more about how the Olmec people revered animals and the natural world?

That's a great question! The Olmec have one of the oldest cultures in Mesoamerica. For these works specifically, the association with animals has meaning. For example, Jaguars -- the greatest hunters in the wild -- are tied to power, ferocity, and therefore, royalty.

Any nocturnal animal (such as owls) are tied to shamanism and the ability to see and perceive the world beyond. The human and animal blending, implies the unique ability to move between and embody both the power of animals and the world of humans. The Olmecs suddenly disappeared, so our understanding of their spirituality is somewhat limited.

So is it mostly allegorical or more religious?

I'd say it's very much religious.

What can you tell me about these?

These jade figurines are associated with the Olmec culture, one of the oldest-known civilizations from Mesoamerica. They likely served a ritual purpose. Jade, or any green stone, was highly prized in the region and was traded across far distances. Each of the figurines has unique aspects. The small one on the left of your photo, for instance, has cinnabar rubbed onto it.

Male Figurine

Arts of the Americas

The Olmec civilization (1400–400 B.C.E.) of Mexico’s Gulf Coast region produced small, portable figurines intended for ritualistic purposes. These three works display the characteristic Olmec sculptural features of a drooping lip and an elongated, flattened head. The winged figure and felsite figurine reflect the Olmec tradition of merging human and animal traits. Such composite forms relate to the ability of shamans, or ritual specialists, to transform themselves into animals. The wings represent those of a bat, associated with the darkness of the underworld. The figurine’s bushy tail and cap with feline ears suggest a jaguar, a sacred animal revered for its power. Jadeite and felsite were not native to Olmec ceremonial centers. Challenging to acquire and laborious to carve, they were valuable materials. The winged figure’s discovery in Costa Rica indicates the reverence for Olmec carvin

CULTURE Olmec

MEDIUM Jadeite, cinnabar

Place Made: Veracruz, Mexico

DATES ca. 800–500 BCE

DIMENSIONS 2 x 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 x 1.9 x 8.9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 51.197.2

CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Small, carved figurine of a standing man with drooping lips and an elongated, flattened head with a curved, vertical headdress. There are incised geometric designs at the back of the head. The arms are bent with hands over stomach. Residue of red pigment visible in carved and incised areas of face and body. Condition: both legs are broken and missing.

EXHIBITIONS

American Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Olmec. Male Figurine, ca. 800–500 BCE. Jadeite, cinnabar, 2 x 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 x 1.9 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin, 51.197.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 51.197.2_bw.jpg)

IMAGE 51.197.2_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT 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.

RECORD COMPLETENESS

Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Could you tell me more about how the Olmec people revered animals and the natural world?

So is it mostly allegorical or more religious?

I'd say it's very much religious.

What can you tell me about these?