GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Besides the yoke and palma, another commonly portrayed element of ballgame attire is the hacha. Worn atop the yoke, hachas protruded from a padded waist belt and were part of the ballgame gear for deflecting the heavy rubber ball. During the Classic period, city centers created ball courts, their replica of Creation Mountain. They put their ball court at the base of the mountain, as the clefted abyss was at the base of the first true Creation Mountain. There they played ritual ballgames with their sacrificial victims, highborn lords who were taken in battle. From the Early Classic period (200–600 CE) onward, the lowland Maya borrowed regalia and conventions of ball playing from the Gulf Coast peoples.
Probably a ceremonial replica of a wooden original, this stone hacha, made in central Veracruz and thus attributed to the Classic Veracruz style, depicts a human face with large, partially cut or pierced ears, wearing a mouth mask and feathered headpiece. Hachas frequently depict a human or animal head and are often pointed and flattened in shape, which is why they were originally referred to as hacha, or "ax" in Spanish. Many replicas of such ballgame accoutrements are commonly found throughout the Gulf Coast region and the Maya area.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.35], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- "Hand Hacha (1979.206.1042)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.1042/. (August 2009).
- "Fish Hacha (1978.412.151)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1978.412.151/. (August 2009).
NOTES
Classic period, 550–750 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 06/19/14.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Gulf Coast Mesoamerican styles: AAT: 300108063
Classic Veracruz styles: AAT: 300017056
Late Classic Veracruz: AAT: 300266231
Geography
Veracruz (state): TGN: 7005599
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Process/materials
stone: AAT: 300011176
granite (rock): AAT: 300011183
granitic stone (rock): DMA
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
protective wear (costume): AAT: 300209266
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
hachas (visual work): AAT: 300264867
axes (weapons): AAT: 300036982
belts (bandas / cinturones / costume accessories): AAT: 300210002
rubber (material): AAT: 300012941
ball game equipment: AAT: 300211062
ball games (games / activities): AAT: 300239662
ball courts (Mesoamerican): AAT: 300007324
replicas (reproduction): AAT: 300015642
creation (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300069002
mountains: AAT: 300008795
Creation Mountain (Mesoamerican doctrinal / religious concept): DMA
myth: AAT: 300201023
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
king: AAT: 300025481
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
captive (prisoners of war): AAT: 300259895
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
battles: AAT: 300185692
wars: AAT: 300055314
figures: AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
human figures: AAT: 300404114
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
ears (human and animal components): DMA
deformation: AAT: 300072976
headdress: AAT: 300046023
hair ornaments: AAT: 300209287
hairstyles: AAT: 300262903
headpiece: AAT: 300209285
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
mouth: DMA
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
tongue (animal or human components): DMA
animals: DMA
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1], [2]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott, the McDermott Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, purchased from the above [1], [2], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Collections Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Worksheet (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[4] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
Khan Academy~Watch a video about the Mesoamerican Ballgame and a Classic Veracruz yoke, with Dr. Rex Koontz and Dr. Steven Zucker.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1973.59
Category
rules_operator
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General Description
Besides the yoke and palma, another commonly portrayed element of ballgame attire is the hacha. Worn atop the yoke, hachas protruded from a padded waist belt and were part of the ballgame gear for deflecting the heavy rubber ball. During the Classic period, city centers created ball courts, their replica of Creation Mountain. They put their ball court at the base of the mountain, as the clefted abyss was at the base of the first true Creation Mountain. There they played ritual ballgames with their sacrificial victims, highborn lords who were taken in battle. From the Early Classic period (200–600 CE) onward, the lowland Maya borrowed regalia and conventions of ball playing from the Gulf Coast peoples.
Probably a ceremonial replica of a wooden original, this stone hacha, made in central Veracruz and thus attributed to the Classic Veracruz style, depicts a human face with large, partially cut or pierced ears, wearing a mouth mask and feathered headpiece. Hachas frequently depict a human or animal head and are often pointed and flattened in shape, which is why they were originally referred to as hacha, or "ax" in Spanish. Many replicas of such ballgame accoutrements are commonly found throughout the Gulf Coast region and the Maya area.
Drawn from
- Carol Robbins, Label text [1973.35], A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
- "Hand Hacha (1979.206.1042)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1979.206.1042/. (August 2009).
- "Fish Hacha (1978.412.151)." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1978.412.151/. (August 2009).
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Khan Academy~Watch a video about the Mesoamerican Ballgame and a Classic Veracruz yoke, with Dr. Rex Koontz and Dr. Steven Zucker.
Notes
Classic period, 550–750 C.E., updated by KJones in TMS on 06/19/14.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Gulf Coast Mesoamerican styles: AAT: 300108063
Classic Veracruz styles: AAT: 300017056
Late Classic Veracruz: AAT: 300266231
Geography
Veracruz (state): TGN: 7005599
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Process/materials
stone: AAT: 300011176
granite (rock): AAT: 300011183
granitic stone (rock): DMA
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
relief (sculpture techniques): AAT: 300053622
Historical periods
Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983
Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117
protective wear (costume): AAT: 300209266
worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274
hachas (visual work): AAT: 300264867
axes (weapons): AAT: 300036982
belts (bandas / cinturones / costume accessories): AAT: 300210002
rubber (material): AAT: 300012941
ball game equipment: AAT: 300211062
ball games (games / activities): AAT: 300239662
ball courts (Mesoamerican): AAT: 300007324
replicas (reproduction): AAT: 300015642
creation (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300069002
mountains: AAT: 300008795
Creation Mountain (Mesoamerican doctrinal / religious concept): DMA
myth: AAT: 300201023
rituals (events): AAT: 300065284
king: AAT: 300025481
rulers (people): AAT: 300025475
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
captive (prisoners of war): AAT: 300259895
nobility (nobles / aristocracy): AAT: 300025942
battles: AAT: 300185692
wars: AAT: 300055314
figures: AAT: 300189808
profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319
human figures: AAT: 300404114
head: AAT: 300262520
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
ears (human and animal components): DMA
deformation: AAT: 300072976
headdress: AAT: 300046023
hair ornaments: AAT: 300209287
hairstyles: AAT: 300262903
headpiece: AAT: 300209285
feather (material): AAT: 300011809
mouth: DMA
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
tongue (animal or human components): DMA
animals: DMA
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764
lines (geometric concept): AAT: 300056279
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1], [2]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott, the McDermott Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, purchased from the above [1], [2], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Collections Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Worksheet (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[4] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
number
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1973.59
source file
object_notes_3_a-0678.xml.nores