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Mesoamerican Ceremonial Ax

Figure 83 Head Hacha, 400-800 A.D.;
artist: Unknown Mesoamerican;
Stone, H. 3 × W. 10 × D. 18 in. (7.6 × 25.4 × 45.7 cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2004, 2004.551.2 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.

Object/Work🔺

  • Catalog Level:🔺 item (value type: controlled list)
  • Type:🔺 hacha (value type: authority)

Classification🔺

  • Terms:🔺
    sculpture
    Mexican art
    Mesoamerican art
    Pre-contact Era art (value type: controlled list)

Titles or Names🔺

  • Text:🔺 Head Hacha (value type: free text)
    Preference: preferred (value type: controlled list)
    Type: repository

Creation🔺

  • Creator Description:🔺 unknown Veracruz (value type: free text)

  • Identity:🔺 unknown Veracruz (_value type: authority)
    Role:🔺 scultor

  • Creation Date:🔺 400-800 A.D. (value type: free text)
    Earliest:🔺 400 Latest:🔺 800 (value type: controlled format)

  • Creation Place/Original Location: Veracruz (Mexico) (value type: free text and/or controlled format)

Style/Period/Group/Movement

  • Indexing Terms: Classic Veracruz (value type: authority)

Measurements🔺

  • Dimensions Description:🔺 7.6 x 25.4 x 45.7 cm (3 x 10 x 18 inches) (value type: free text)

  • Value: 7.6 Unit: cm Type: height
    Value: 25.4 Unit: cm Type: width
    Value: 45.7 Unit: cm Type: diameter (value type: controlled format and controlled lists)

Materials and Techniques🔺

  • Description:🔺 stone (value type: free text)

  • Material Name: stone (value type: authority)

Subject Matter🔺

  • Indexing Terms:🔺
    religion/mythology
    human figure
    face
    helmet
    ceremonial object
    ballgame
    sports equipment (value type: authority)

Descriptive Note

  • Text: Like other hachas distinctive to the Classic Veracruz culture, this ax-like sculpture represents the the gear worn by players of a ceremonial ballgame popular in ancient Mesoamerica. It most likely depicts the head of an individual adorned with a helmet, a common costume associated with Mesoamerican ballgames. As the actual hachas used in ballgames were made of lighter materials, this hatcha sculpture probably served a more ritualistic purpose; it could have been worn during the cycle of rituals associated with the ballgame, awarded as a trophy, or displayed as an actual ballcourt marker, amongst other potential uses. (value type: free text)

  • Citation: The Met Collection online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 29 July 2024 (value type: free text)

  • Citation: Dumbarton Oaks online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 29 July 2024 (value type: free text)

  • Citation: J. Paul Getty Museum online (value type: authority)
    Page: accessed 29 July 2024 (value type: free text)

Current Location🔺

  • Repository Name/Geographic Location:🔺 The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York, United States) (value type: authority)
    Repository Numbers:🔺 2004.551.2 (value type: free text)

NOTE: 🔺 indicates a core CDWA category.

Revised 29 July 2024
by Emily Benoff

Figure 83 Head Hacha, 400-800 A.D.;
artist: Unknown Mesoamerican;
Stone, H. 3 × W. 10 × D. 18 in. (7.6 × 25.4 × 45.7 cm);
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, New York), Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2004, 2004.551.2 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved.