This marvelous stone sculpture of a skull is
carved in a realistic manner, depicting especially
powerful deep eye sockets and a full set of teeth.
Such close resemblance to a real human skull
has a strong visual and emotional impact on its
viewers. In Ancient Meso-America, skulls were
often used to suggest death and sacrifice, and
this magnificently carved skull possibly
represents the god of the underworld. The
underworld was a place in afterlife through
which all the deceased had to go. Its nine layers
are difficult to pass through and perhaps this
god of the underworld was to oversee those who
are traveling through those layers. In addition to
the fine workmanship, the artist of the sculpture
has carefully chosen the color of stone to match
the color of human bone. Just like human bones
that last for thousands of years, the dramatic,
hard, dense stone skull seems to defy the
passage of time, wanting to last forever. This
realistic depiction of a skull reminds people of
the natural event of death and the eternal
afterlife that awaits humanity.
- (PF.3412)
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