Last weekend I visited the National Museum of the American Indian.

As I was walking around, I noticed many different sculptures and artifacts that represent the history and culture of Indian tribes. However, one particular piece that was appealing to me was this sculpture of the maize goddess, known as Mexica Chicomecoatl, which also means “seven snakes”. I found it interesting that a female figure was given such great significance. Once I approached it and took a closer look, I noted that this sculpture was standing upright, and the goddess seemed to have a very determined, confident expression. I was really amazed at how clearly the features were depicted, given that this sculpture was made at the period between AD 1325–1521.

Noting that the goddess is holding two ears of corn in each hand led me to think that corn must have been a very important crop among the people who worshipped the goddess. I later learned that this female spirit of corn was one of the most respected deities among the farmers of Central Mexico. Many similar carved sculptures of her were produced, and while some of them were used for family worship in rural communities, others, such as this one, were placed in a temple.

It is truly captivating to see how such a beautiful piece of art was created as a result of spiritual beliefs. The fact that the sculpture is made out of stone makes it appear strong and firm as opposed to delicate and vulnerable. It was quite impressive to look at this complex sculpture and all its tiny details while knowing that it was made so many centuries ago. This single piece of art in fact unravels a great history of creative people who were able to portray important themes in the form of art, which we are lucky enough to be exposed to today.