Since the dawn of history, mankind has sought to bring luck and avert evil through the wearing of amulets. Amutets can carry a thousand different powers, depending on their shape, their color or the material they are made from. In Ancient Mexico, amulets of stone and shell were especially popular. Worn on leather or fibre cords around the neck, they invited the benevolent protection of the gods, stimulated bravery in war, and brought good luck and sexual success in times of peace. This unusual amulet depicts the stylized head of a snake. The serpent was a powerful deity in Ancient America, often associated with the underworld. However, a talisman like this may simply have been worn to prevent snakebite. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its abstract contours, we cannot help but wonder who held it in just this way centuries ago. L. 3.7cm(1 1/2IN)