Crocodile Effigy Bowl

This magnificent effigy bowl is finely sculpted with an image of a crocodile. Animals such as bats and crocodiles were important deity images during the period 300 – 700 A.D. in Costa Rica. Although the exact significance of the crocodile deity is still esoteric, we can imagine how the mysterious amphibian nature of an alligator contributed to its godly status. In rituals and ceremonies, priests often wore alligator masks/costumes to perform various sacrifices to please gods. The front of the bowl shows an elaborately sculpted face of a crocodile. Its large bulging eyes seem to pierce through the viewers’ souls and the open mouth revealing sharp teeth displays power and strength. The nose is sculpted in a highly stylized fashion with geometric shapes and incision marks. The legs are decorated with incision marks reminiscent of scales and the tail is rendered with small, intricate terracotta beads. Incised patterns encircle the rim of the bowl to further enhance its refined beauty. Such magnificent vessel most likely contained precious ritual substances and, as modern viewers, we can only imagine the magical ancient ceremony of which this sculpture was a part.