Architectural Element in the Form of a Serpent's Head
| Culture | Zapotec |
|---|---|
| Title | Architectural Element in the Form of a Serpent's Head |
| Date | 400–600 |
| Medium | Stone |
| Dimensions | Object: 5 3/4 × 13 1/8 × 3 3/8 in. (14.6 × 33.3 × 8.6 cm) Overall (includes mount): 9 1/2 × 13 1/8 × 5 in. (24.1 × 33.3 × 12.7 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Henry R. Hope, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 72.41 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A carved limestone form resembling an abstracted head of a serpent. From the profile view, the serpent has an upturned nose and a tongue coming out of its slightly open mouth.
Zapotec culture, with its most important political and ceremonial center at Monte Albán, was the major power in Oaxaca during the Late Formative and Classic periods. We do not know where in Oaxaca this serpent-head was originally located, but the tenon at one end indicates that it was likely anchored in a facade or stairway.
Serpents within Mesoamerican art are important and quite common, as they are often associated with new birth, transformation, and the ability to move through the different parts of the universe.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
Request this image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request.
This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.
Cite this page
"Architectural Element in the Form of a Serpent's Head | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=72.41