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Butterfly Nose Ornament
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Near Teotihuacán’s largest palace is a temple ornamented with green-feathered serpents, symbols of the earth’s fertility. Beneath the temple were at least 120 human sacrifices, most men, many warriors, and some wearing greenstone ornaments like these, perhaps a set. The sacrifices may have consecrated the temple or a ruler’s tomb, or both.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Classic period |
|---|---|
| Date | 150–200 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Central Mexico, Teotihuacán, Classic period |
| Medium | jadeite-albitite? |
| Dimensions | Overall: 4.8 x 6.5 x 0.4 cm (1 7/8 x 2 9/16 x 3/16 in.) |
| Department | Art of the Americas |
| Type | Stone |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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