Barakat Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artworks
  • Exhibitions
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Menu

Veracruz Art

  • All
  • Masterpieces of Pre-Columbian Art
  • Aztec Art
  • Art of Costa Rica
  • Art of Ecuador
  • Mayan Art
  • Mayan Ceramics
  • Mezcala Art
  • Olmec Art
  • Olmec Masks
  • Art of Panama
  • Taino Art
  • Teotihuacan Art
  • Toltec Art
  • Veracruz Art
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Veracruz Stone Hacha in the Form of an Acrobat, 200 AD to 600 AD
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Veracruz Stone Hacha in the Form of an Acrobat, 200 AD to 600 AD
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Veracruz Stone Hacha in the Form of an Acrobat, 200 AD to 600 AD
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Veracruz Stone Hacha in the Form of an Acrobat, 200 AD to 600 AD

Veracruz Stone Hacha in the Form of an Acrobat, 200 AD to 600 AD

stone
33 x 12.7 cm
13 x 5 in
PH.0278
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EVeracruz%20Stone%20Hacha%20in%20the%20Form%20of%20an%20Acrobat%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E200%20AD%20to%20600%20AD%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3Estone%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E33%20x%2012.7%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0A13%20x%205%20in%3C/div%3E

Further images

  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 1 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 2 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 3 ) Thumbnail of additional image
  • (View a larger image of thumbnail 4 ) Thumbnail of additional image
This sculpture depicts a hacha in the form of an acrobat. The hacha is a sculptural element that would have been used in an ancient Mesoamerican ballgame. The ball game,...
Read more
This sculpture depicts a hacha in the form of an acrobat. The hacha is a sculptural element that would have been used in an ancient Mesoamerican ballgame. The ball game, perhaps ritually signifying the transit of the sun and moon between the celestial and terrestrial spheres, was an important event in Mesoamerican culture and was considered necessary to maintain the cosmic cycle. The game was both a sport and a sacrificial ritual. Made out of heavy stone, this hacha was probably used as a ritual implement to mimic the lighter leather adornments used in the actual game. In fact, relief sculptures and terracotta figures show axe- shaped objects attached to ball- players’ belts, which were used as deflectors and protectors. The game itself used a large rubber ball that could be hit by the elbows, knees or hips but could not be touched by the hands or feet.

A defining characteristic of the Classic Veracruz culture is the presence of stone ballgame gear, such as this hacha. These hachas would have been attached to yolkes, another element of the ballgame equipment. Popular imagery in hachas are human heads, which are suggested to be associated with decapitation rituals associated with the ballgame. Although images of figurative heads are common in hachas, they can also depict a wide array of subject matter.
Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
19 
of  19

London

48 Albemarle Street,

London, W1S 4JW

info@barakatgallery.eu 

 

       


 

CONTACT | TEAM | PRESS 

 

Seoul
58-4, Samcheong-ro,
Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82 02 730 1949
barakat@barakat.kr
             

 

Los Angeles

941 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069
+1 310 859 8408

contact@barakatgallery.com

  


 

 

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
View on Google Maps
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Barakat Gallery
Site by Artlogic


Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Sign Up

* denotes required fields