Mayan Old God

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Maya/Veracruz (Vera Cruz), ca. 500 to 900 CE. A remarkable pottery figurine depicting a seated elderly man, his wrinkled and sunken face conveying age and wisdom, with a shawl draped over his shoulders. This figure may represent the Mesoamerican “Old God,” often depicted as an elderly, wizened man, associated with the underworld, time, and creation. Linked to gods like Itzamna or Chaac, he embodies wisdom, knowledge, and cosmic balance. Whether a deity or an elderly mortal, this figure represents somone of significance, with an intricately impressed cloak suggesting a finely patterned textile, complemented by a necklace and large earspools, indicating status and reverence.