The Aztec Goddess of Water relief showed in Figure 2 displays a large headdress. Feathers surround the wearer's face and highlights similar circular and rectangular decorative elements that are seen on the Aztec headdress. Close inspection by Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education senior ceramic scientist Pamela B. Vandiver confirms that the relief carries remains of blue, green and yellow pigments used on the rain goddess headdress.1 The comparable feathered headdress displays matching colors. The “Figurine of a Warrior” from the Cleveland Museum of Art is another example that helps illustrate the similarities of the art pieces (Fig 3). The small figurine’s feathers are petite compared to the other pieces, however, the design elements remain rather comparable. Feathers are positioned around the head with a more prominent feather decoration extending out atop of the head. Subtle yet ornate circle features are located at the base of the blooming feathers. The formal qualities of these three pieces hold similar design elements but the size of one’s headdress varied by their status. The details on the Aztec warrior are inferior to the other two examples and would place him lower on the social ladder.2 You could assume that the warrior (Fig 3) holds less power within the Aztec empire compared to the Goddess of Water (Fig
The Aztec Goddess of Water relief showed in Figure 2 displays a large headdress. Feathers surround the wearer's face and highlights similar circular and rectangular decorative elements that are seen on the Aztec headdress. Close inspection by Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education senior ceramic scientist Pamela B. Vandiver confirms that the relief carries remains of blue, green and yellow pigments used on the rain goddess headdress.1 The comparable feathered headdress displays matching colors. The “Figurine of a Warrior” from the Cleveland Museum of Art is another example that helps illustrate the similarities of the art pieces (Fig 3). The small figurine’s feathers are petite compared to the other pieces, however, the design elements remain rather comparable. Feathers are positioned around the head with a more prominent feather decoration extending out atop of the head. Subtle yet ornate circle features are located at the base of the blooming feathers. The formal qualities of these three pieces hold similar design elements but the size of one’s headdress varied by their status. The details on the Aztec warrior are inferior to the other two examples and would place him lower on the social ladder.2 You could assume that the warrior (Fig 3) holds less power within the Aztec empire compared to the Goddess of Water (Fig