Collections

Keepers of the Mesoamerican Cosmos

Mesoamerican artists channeled the creative forces of the cosmos to recreate it in miniature, painting, sculpting, and carving powerful images that testify to the world’s creation. The works in this collection, from ceramic cups to stone monuments, architectural models to incense burners, embody cosmic narratives and their protagonists. They tell of an endless sea—both pacific and chaotic—at the beginning of everything. From these primordial waters, the sky is raised and held aloft at the world’s four corners, like a roof supported by a house. The earth emerges, and celestial deities—the sun, moon, and stars—establish the rhythmic order of existence. Gods of rain, lightning, and maize intervene to create sustenance for humankind. In return, people nourish the gods with offerings of incense and blood, maintaining the balance of the universe that guides Mesoamerican life.