Pendant in the Form of the Sun God
| Culture | Maya |
|---|---|
| Title | Pendant in the Form of the Sun God |
| Date | 600–900 |
| Medium | Jadeite |
| Dimensions | Object: 1 3/4 × 1 1/8 × 7/8 in. (4.4 × 2.9 × 2.2 cm) Overall (includes mount): 2 1/4 × 1 1/8 × 1 in. (5.7 × 2.9 × 2.5 cm) |
| Credit Line | Raymond and Laura Wielgus Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 77.91 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
Light green jadeite pendant in the form of a head. The face has a wide nose, eyes with outlined pupils that point inward and upward, and a mouth that is slightly open, the tongue visible.
Less than two inches tall, but monumental in its presence and complex in its significance, this beautiful example of Maya lapidary work depicts K’inich Ajaw, Sun-Eyed Lord, the Maya sun god. Carved of jadeite, a material considered most valuable in the Ancient Americas, and depicting a deity from the complex Maya pantheon, the pendant was most likely part of a necklace—perhaps the central element in a string of jade beads—or worn hanging from a belt. Maya men and women wore jewelry made from a variety of materials, but pieces carved from jadeite were especially favored by priests and royalty for the prestige and for the life-affirming symbolism associated with the material.
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.
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"Pendant in the Form of the Sun God | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=77.91