Aztec warrior skeleton sculpture

Description:	This skeleton, dressed in the clothing and accessories of an Aztec warrior, honors the roots of the Mexican celebration, El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This unique celebration grew from the blending of Aztec beliefs about death with Catholic beliefs brought to Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors, 16th-century Spanish explorers who came to the New World. The clothing and accessories of a high-ranking Aztec warrior include: feathered bracelets, leg decorations and collar, a feathered shield painted with the image of an iconic bird, a jaguar headdress symbolizing that he is a brave warrior who has taken many prisoners, and a macuahuitl, a wooden club edged with sharp flakes of obsidian that was used as a protective weapon. The Aztecs saw death as a part of the process of life. A persons afterlife depended on how he or she died. For example, warriors like the one represented here, went to accompany the sun god, Tonatiuh, and after four years became hummingbirds and butterflies. Also, much like the celebration today, the Aztecs honored the spirits of the dead and invited them to visit on certain days of the year when they placed offerings for them on their tombs. Today, much like the time of the Aztecs, El Dia de los Muertos is a celebration when it is believed that spirits of family members and friends who have passed away come back to Earth to their gravesites so that they may visit their loved ones. In turn, families go to the cemeteries to clean off the tombs and leave offerings such as the foods and drinks that were favored by those dead spirits during their lifetimes. Flowers, especially marigolds, are arranged intricately upon the tombs. Candles illuminate the cemeteries in a twinkling halo. It is a loving and warm tribute to friends and family who are greatly missed. Outside of the cemeteries, the celebration also comes to life. Skeletons, like the one seen here, are created by artists to make people laugh and to poke fun at death. Skeletons from all walks of life can be seen, relaying the message that no matter who you are in life-rich or poor, famous or unknown-you will end up a skeleton in the end. Skeleton decorations and sculptures can be seen in homes, markets and all around town during the weeks leading up to Day of the Dead, celebrated from October 31 - November 2. The artist of this piece, Alfonso Castillo, is part of a long line of artists of Metepec, Mexico who specialize in making clay sculptures. The Castillo family workshop is operated by the whole family, helping to introduce younger generations to the art of clayworking at an early age. The sculptures are molded, fired and painted by various family members. Alfonsos wife, Maria Hernandez, and his sons help with the work. The clay is dug and carried by hand and all of the paints are naturally-based. The vibrant colors seen on their pieces are created by using such things as indigo (blue), bark of the Brasil tree (reds and purples), and the cochineal bug (helps create different tones of colors).
Source:	http://www.digitalindy.org/cdm/ref/collection/tcm/id/1019
Collection:	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Rights:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/;
Copyright:	Creative Commons (CC By-SA 3.0);
Subjects:	Holidays -- Mexico Mexico -- Social life and customs All Souls Day Skeletons Sculpture Aztecs Aztecs -- Religion Aztecs -- Social life and customs

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