Head of a Water Deity (Chalchiuhtlicue) 1521

This is the head of Chalchiuhtlicue, the Aztec water deity, carved from volcanic stone sometime between 1300 and 1521. The dense, granular texture of the stone determined the sculpture’s overall appearance. Consider the labor involved in its creation. Quarrying, transporting, and carving this material without metal tools would have required intense, collective effort. The regularity of the deity’s headdress, with its repeated geometric forms, is evidence of a highly developed craft tradition. The stone’s grey, earthy tone connects the sculpture to the natural world, reminding us of the Aztec’s deep relationship with their environment, and the life-giving, and sometimes destructive, power of water. So, when you look at this sculpture, remember the stone itself, the skilled hands that shaped it, and the cultural beliefs that gave it meaning. Appreciating these aspects allows us to move beyond traditional art history and understand the true depth of this remarkable object.