Terms and conditions of use
Urn of Cocijo
Middle Formative – Late Formative, Monte Albán I 600 BCE-200 BCE
- Medium
- earthenware
- Measurements
- 42.2 × 18.6 × 18.7 cm
- Place/s of Execution
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Accession Number
- 2002.217
- Department
- Pre-Columbian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Nigel Morgan, Founder Benefactor, 2002
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation - Gallery location
- Not on display
- About this work
-
This urn from Monte Alban, the sacred and political centre of the Zapotecs, depicts Cocijo, the god of rain and lightning. The origin of Cocijo’s attributes can be traced to Olmec iconography. Traces of Olmec imagery can be seen in Cocijo’s characteristic motifs: the pug-shaped nose, the tabular ears, the flared ‘snarling jaguar’ upper lip, the three large teeth protruding from the upper lip, the almond shaped eyes of the Olmec rain baby, as well as the flame eyebrows.