Monkeys are animals that have captured people's attention because of their striking similarity to humans. This has given them a special meaning in various cultures. For example, among the Mexica it was believed that during the second sun known as "4 wind" (Nahui Ehectal) there was a humanity that was destroyed by a powerful wind that threw people into the air. Those few who managed to survive hid in the trees and transformed themselves into monkeys.
This piece is a representation of a monkey, carved in jadeite or green serpentine. Due to its simple shape, it can be associated with the Mezcala tradition.
The piece has an oval shape similar to the number 9. In keeping with tradition, the legs are delineated by a line that separates the calf from the thigh and another that divides the thigh from the belly. The torso adopts a half-circle shape, creating the impression of a bulging belly. At the top of the torso, one arm extends from the left side, turning at the neck and projecting backwards to hold the tail. The head is in profile and has a "C" shape, with wear and tear separating the arm from the head and defining the eye sockets. A pronounced tuft stands out, characteristic of pre-Hispanic representations of this animal. The eyes are created through two small perforations, while an incised line traces a smile.
The back and nape form a straight line, and from the thigh section emerges a semicircular tail that extends upward to the top of the head. The piece has a perforation in the neck, which allows us to infer that it functioned as a pendant in pre-Hispanic times.
In the Nahuatl language, the monkey was known as ozomantli and occupied a prominent place in people's imagination. According to Seler, these animals were considered to be cheerful, fun and entertaining beings, which associated them with singing and dancing. However, because of their libidinous behavior, they were also linked to sexual transgressions, forbidden pleasure and death. These attributes related them to Huehuecoyotl, the god of the arts, music and ceremonial dance, as well as to Xochipilli, the god linked to flowers, joy, music, singing and hallucinatory trance.
The importance of this animal was so significant that the eleventh sign of the calendar was named after it, and it was believed that people born under this sign acquired the characteristics of the monkey. According to Fray Diego Durán, they were described as cheerful, truant, humorous and skilled in artistic representation, who used to make a living through these skills. It was said that they would have numerous friends and would be welcomed by kings and lords. In the case of women, they were attributed to be singers, rejoicing, graceful, though not necessarily very honest or chaste, easy-laughing and persuasive in any matter.
