The state of Veracruz forms an arc along Mexico's Gulf coast some 500 miles long and 30 to 100 miles wide. Basically tropical and often mountainous, this region was a geographical and cultural link between Teotihuacán in the highlands of central Mexico and cities in the Maya Lowlands to the southeast. It was also part of the principal sea-level route that led north along the Gulf to what is now the southeastern United States.

Terracotta is a ruddy brown, hard-baked clay used for construction (roof tiles, cornices), sculpture, or pottery. It is molded or shaped by hand and then dried for a period of time before being baked or fired at high temperatures. Though often left unglazed, terracotta objects can be glazed prior to firing or painted once dry.

A method for decorating clay objects that was developed by the ancient Athenians, the red-figure Greek vase painting technique appears in red, and the background in black. The background is painted on and allowed to dry while all linear detail in the decoration is made by painting on lines.

The adjective realistic describes things that are represented according to their actual appearance without being idealized or abstracted.  

A pyxis is a type of ancient Greek pottery shaped into a cylindrical, lidded container used for holding trinkets or cosmetics.  (Plural Pyxides).

Patina is the term for the brown or green encrustation on the surface of metalwork caused by oxidation, age, use, or exposure.

In Greek mythology, Dionysus is the god of wine and wine-making. The Roman counterpart is Bacchus. The cult of Bacchus seems to have held a particular attraction for women. A Bacchante is a female follower of Bacchus; Maenads refers to the women devotees to Dionysus.