Minneapolis Institute of Art
Ceremonial spindle whorl
Maya artistLinkedCulture matchlcp-02a8ac31c867
- Date
- 10th-15th century
- Medium
- Stone
- Culture
- Maya
- Department
- Arts of the Americas
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Object ID
- 21954
According to Maya worldview, the Sun's cyclical journey across the sky, through the underworld, and back again began with the whirling of a spindle. This cosmic relationship is referenced in the carvings which adorn this spindle whorl; the personified sun and its rays of light would be set in motion by the actions of the spinner. The whorl - a fly wheel to give momentum to the rotating spindle - thus becomes a symbol of the world's creation, connecting the creative powers of the gods and the celestial realm with the spinners and weavers on earth. Guatemala, Mexico, Americas
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Stanley Hawks
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