However, this task was considered a proud one, so the sculpture attempts to honor the dog for his sacrifice. The chubbiness of the hound shows how the dogs were often fattened by an overprovision of food so they would be able to provide a good quantity of meat to the tribe. Native hairless dogs of Mexico ( Wikimedia Commons ) Dogs as a meat sourceĭog figures reveal one of the primary functions of canines in Late Formative Colima: their function as a food source. Most Unusual Dog Burial Ever Unearthed in Egyptįigure 2.The opulent life of royal dogs in the ancient Forbidden City of China.Discovery of Aztec dog cemetery puzzles archaeologists.However, upon closer inspection of the culture's beliefs and customs, it becomes evident that these sculptures were not meant to be mere reminders of adorable puppies, but of a higher significance. Thus, the simple existence of these ceramic dogs reveals that they were once so meaningful, it was necessary to immortalize their quaint forms. In the culture of Colima, dogs played a significant role in both life and death, in part because they were one of the only domesticated animals in the society. Its belly is rounded and swollen-evidence that it has clearly well-fed and cared for-while its head is lifted and ears perked up, revealing a happy, playful nature within. Life-size in shape, the dog figure stands on four short, chubby legs and depicts the native hairless dogs of the area. Pot-bellied Dog Figure, Mexico, State of Colima, 300 BC - 300 AD, ceramic ( Wikimedia Commons ) The dog figure appears to be indicative of both life and death themes, through its association with food and graves.įigure 1. Made of terracotta clay and fired, it represents one of the native hairless dogs of the region and was intended for multiple uses. The ceramic dog figure (Figure 1) comes from the West Mexican site of Colima during the Late Formative Period (300 BC-300 AD).
However, it was also widely recognized that these works of art had some underlying religious significance as well. Themes could extend to celebratory weddings, children's births, and royal feasts. In West Mexican culture, it was understood that works of art tended to represent certain themes important to the culture. While these three locations share similar artistic characteristics, the ceramic depictions of dogs playing remain one of the most unique creations of the site of Colima. Jalisco, Nayarit and Colima were the primary sites, creating some of the most intriguing and visually stimulating art of the time despite their removal from such infamous groups as the Aztec. The ceramics of West Mexico were very different from contemporary civilizations.
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