A Chacmool figure holding a bowl in the ruins of Templo Mayor in Mexico City
From the collection of CyArk
Details
Sculpture representing a Chac Mool in its characteristic position, reclining in a pose difficult to keep, with bent arm and legs and the head completely turn to one side. He holds a cuauhxicalli, or offering vessel over his stomach. The rim of the vessel is ornamented with feather and jewel glyphs. The character is luxuriously attired with large circular earflaps, bracelets, and bangles made of green stone beads, and a three string necklace equally made of green stone beads from which a trapezoidal ornament that seems to represent an ancient object or a relic hangs.
3D Content
He wears sandals with heelpieces ornamented by little tecpatls (personified sacrificial knives) and a headdress of long feathers hanging down behind covering his back. The face of the character is covered by a variation of Tláloc’s rain mask in which his blinkers and long fangs can be identified. In the bottom of the sculpture there is an aquatic scene carved in bas-relief, where the figure of the god Tláloc is crouching in a Tlaltecuhtli, Lord of the Land, style. The god is surrounded by elements that suggest the aquatic and cold environment of the underworld. The sculpture was masterfully made in the so-called Aztec Imperial style. Sculptures of Chac Mool related to the worship to Tláloc, the rain god, have been found in Tenochtitlan, on the top of Templo Mayor.
Specifications

Title: Chac Mool

Creator: Unknown

Date Created: 1250/1500

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Physical Dimensions: w1.178 x h0.815 x d0.498 m

Period: Posclásico Tardío (1250-1521 d.C.)

Type: Sculpture

Medium: Basalto

Credit: CyArk

Credits
3D documentation was completed by CyArk in collaboration with INAH in 2016

Cuauhxicalli

He holds a cuauhxicalli, or offering vessel over his stomach. The rim of the vessel is ornamented with feather and jewel glyphs.

Orientation

The 90-degree head orientation is typical of other chacmools from the same time period, as is the pose, which is helpless, almost defenseless, humble, with bent knees and arms. Other forms of art from the same period use this type of pose to symbolize a prisoner.

Seated Posture

Chacmool in its characteristic position, reclining in a pose difficult to keep, with bent arm and legs and the head completely turn to one side.

Symbols & Iconography

On Chacmools celebrating the rain god, it’s common to see rain god iconography - frogs, marine life, etc.

Red feet

The feet are red with a hint of blue at the sandals. This coloring actually helped researchers connect this type of Chacmool with Tlaloc by matching the coloring in books from the same period in Central Mexico.

Chacmool

Sculpture representing a Chac Mool in its characteristic position, reclining in a pose difficult to keep, with bent arm and legs and the head completely turn to one side.

  翻译：