Meso-Americans valued human sacrifice as the generator of agricultural fertility. Trophy heads of warriors who had been captured and slaughtered represented a completion of the agricultural cycle. Human heads were represented as the 'fruits' of the human life process. The realm of an afterlife confronts us with the blank gaze of the warrior. He appears peaceful, as he has served a great purpose in enabling the continuation of human life. His geometric pattern coiffure confirms that he was an important person. One wonders if he was a strong leader that had been captured by enemies and sacrificed. The power and solemn grace of this piece transcends through time and captivates its audience.