2-737-582 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Pendant Plaque, c. 500-700. This exceptionally large and elaborate plaque depicts a human being costumed as a jaguar, with claws on hands and feet, and a jaguar-head helmet. At the Zapotec capital, Monte Albán, dignitaries in feline garb are portrayed in several relief sculptures. A pendant similar to this one was found in an architectural dedicatory offering deposit at Monte Albán.