This little figurine has the shape of an opossum. It is identified by the features commonly used to represent this animal in Mesoamerican iconography, such as the long and pronounced muzzle, the triangular-shaped ears that end with a swirl on one side, an elongated elliptical frame around the eyes that has a pointy end towards the muzzle and the belly is slightly swollen. The figurine is made out of a mold; two holes in the armpits serve to hang it with a thread, at the same time this piece has a wide base so it can also be placed standing on a flat surface.
The opossum is very popular in the Mesoamerican myths, it appears in several myths and plays different roles because of some peculiar characteristics. It is a marsupial animal, very skilled at stealing, clever, prolific and tough. Their sexual composition is strange: the females have two uteri and a double vagina and the males have a bifurcated penis with the testicles located in front. They have a great ability to play dead. Because of their white and stiff fur they are associated with elderly people.
Among their multiple roles in myths, the most well-known is the theft of fire. Although there are different versions, the basic tale goes as follows: during ancient times when humans did not have fire, after attempts by several animals, the opossum was the only one that managed to bring fire to Earth. He used deceit to reach the bonfire and stole the fire from its owner. He managed to escape and gave his bounty to men. In some versions the animal took the fire with him on his tail, which is used to explain why the opossum has a hairless tail. In other versions, the animal takes advantage of it being a marsupial to hide the fire in its pouch. There are versions where the opossum dies torn apart upon arrival, but springs back to life afterwards.
The opossum is represented on small simple objects like this little figurine and even on more elaborate ceramics or in paintings in codices with rich decorations because it was an important animal in Mesoamerican mythology.
This little figurine has the shape of an opossum. It is identified by the features commonly used to represent this animal in Mesoamerican iconography, such as the long and pronounced muzzle, the triangular-shaped ears that end with a swirl on one side, an elongated elliptical frame around the eyes that has a pointy end towards the muzzle and the belly is slightly swollen. The figurine is made out of a mold; two holes in the armpits serve to hang it with a thread, at the same time this piece has a wide base so it can also be placed standing on a flat surface.
