Sacred Clay: Pottery in Ancient Mesoamerica

Ancient Mexican and Maya peoples used pottery in rituals for both the living and the dead. Some pottery vessels carried images of gods, animals, and supernatural entities, while others depicted scenes of the ancient ballgame. Still others depicted images of elites preparing and consuming the chocolate beverage — cacao — that the vessels themselves held. Elaborate censers speak to sacred practices in shrines and funerary contexts. This talk explores the vital role of clay vessels as active participants in storytelling and shaping communities across ancient Mesoamerica.

Dr. Catherine DiCesare is a Professor of Art History at Colorado State University, where she teaches courses on the arts of the ancient Americas as well as Renaissance and Baroque Europe. In her research, she focuses particularly on the art of the Aztecs of central Mexico. She has a special interest in indigenous Mexican pictorial manuscripts, prehispanic rituals and ceremonies, and calendars.