An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves500–550
This richly dressed elite male belonged to a row of identical figures who processed along the walls of a patio in one of Teotihuacán’s wealthy apartment compounds. He offers a chant or prayer, materialized in a mouth scroll, along with a flower-filled libation that cascades from one hand. In the other hand, he carries an incense bag. The thorny spines of the maguey cactus, in front and behind, may allude to the offering of precious blood and a ritual beverage made from the cactus’s sap (pulque, a less refined form of tequila). The spines are thrust into objects that may represent bundles or plots of land.
This fragment is from a larger composition that covered the walls of a patio at Teotihuacan.
fresco on wall fragment
Overall: 83.2 x 116.2 cm (32 3/4 x 45 3/4 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
In the serene shadows of Teotihuacán, a vibrant world unfolds, revealing the stories of a long-forgotten civilization. Picture a sun-drenched patio, where the ancient walls stand tall like silent witnesses to history. Here, among the remnants of opulence, a striking figure emerges — a richly dressed elite male, adorned in finery that tells of his high status.
He moves in harmony with a procession of identical figures, each one echoing the same grace, as if they are threads in a grand tapestry woven from the essence of time. In one hand, he offers a mouth scroll, a whisper of thoughts and prayers that dance on the air. It is a moment of connection, as if he is reaching out to the cosmos, sharing his reverence.
From his other hand flows a libation, a cascade of blossoms that spills forth like a gentle waterfall, each petal a testament to life’s beauty and fragility. It is a tribute, a gift to the gods who once inhabited these sacred grounds. The sights and scents intertwine, conjuring a vivid tapestry of rituals long past.
Yet this scene is not without its deeper meaning. The thorny spines of the maguey cactus weave through the landscape, standing sentinel both in front of him and behind. These spines hark back to potent offerings — the ideas of precious blood and ritualistic beverages like pulque, the sacred sap of the cactus, treasured by its people. It is an elixir of life, less refined than tequila but brimming with cultural significance.
Moreover, these jagged thorns emerge from objects that embody the very essence of land and livelihood, each spike thrusting into bundles that symbolize plots of territory — a reminder of the grip of community and ownership amidst the chaos of existence.
In this single moment of prayer, song, and offerings, we are drawn into the heart of an ancient culture. We sense their joys and sorrows, their hopes intermingling with roots embedded in the earth. This figure celebrates a life rich with meaning, capturing the rhythm of a world that knows both the beauty and thorn of existence, echoing down the corridors of time.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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