Taube-OlmecMaizeGod-1996

Publication Details

• Title: The Olmec Maize God: The Face of Corn in Formative Mesoamerica

• Author: Karl Taube

• Source: RES: Anthropology and Aesthetics, Spring - Autumn, 1996, No. 29/30, The Pre-Columbian (Spring - Autumn, 1996), pp. 39-81

• Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

• Stable URL: JSTOR Link

Importance of Maize in Mesoamerica

• Cultural Significance:

  • Corn (Zea mays) played a fundamental role in Mesoamerican society, shaping social and cultural evolution.

  • Postclassic period studies highlight its economic and religious importance, but early Formative period iconography is less explored.

• Olmec Ritual and Belief Systems:

  • The Olmec developed a complex belief system around maize, integrated into their economic network extending into highland Mexico and Maya regions.

Olmec Iconography and Maize Motifs

• Key Studies:

  • Early identifications of maize motifs were made by Joralemon (1971).

  • Important motifs include:

    • Motif 81: "banded maize"

    • Motif 89: "tripartite maize"

    • Motif 93: "maize with flowing silk"

• Maize Deity (God II):

  • Commonly displayed in Olmec iconography, with various artistic representations linking him to maize through motifs.

  • The acceptance of this being as a maize god is limited, with some scholars suggesting interpretations questioning his identity related to maize.

• Debates and Discussions:

  • Virginia Fields (1991) did not acknowledge a maize deity, focusing instead on various motifs attributed to Joralemon's God II.

  • Reilly (1994) connects this being to maize and growth but avoids identifying him definitively as the maize god.

Physical Attributes of the Maize God

• Artistic Representations:

  • The Olmec Maize God often features prominently with an ear of corn emerging from a split or cleft head, symbolizing growth.

  • The style progresses from schematic depictions to more realistic representations of maize ears over time.

  • Cleft features are often depicted creating a visual link to the act of harvesting and decapitation of maize.

• Green Maize Representation:

  • The imagery frequently illustrates the transition phases of corn, showing a visual timeline from seed to maturity.

  • Examples include jadeite celts representing ears of maize and figures adorned with maize-related features.

Cultural Connections and Iconographic Influence

• Significance of Celts:

  • There is a marked presence of jadeite celts in Olmec art, symbolizing both maize and wealth within society.

  • Certain sculptures depict maize as pivotal in conveying ritualized agricultural practices.

• Link to Other Cultures:

  • Connections with later Mesoamerican rain and maize gods suggest a lineage of iconography extending from Olmec influences into Zapotec, Maya, and Isthmian cultures.

• Ritual Context:

  • The depictions of maize and the Olmec Maize God reflect a broader ideology during the Middle Formative period that emphasized agricultural rituals and celebrations as central to societal organization and communal identity.

Economic Aspects of Maize

• Socioeconomic Development:

  • Agricultural practices contributed to the development of surplus economies among the Olmec.

• Trade Networks:

  • The Olmec engaged in extensive trade networks supporting their economic systems, highlighting the importance of maize as both sustenance and commodity in exchange.

  • Evidence of complex exchanges led to ideological dissemination across cultures, particularly concerning maize reverence in religious contexts.

Conclusion

• The study of the Olmec Maize God and associated iconography reveals the fundamental role of maize in shaping Mesoamerican civilization across economic, cultural, and religious dimensions. The progression of maize representation reflects shifting agricultural practices and ideological beliefs nurtured through interregional networks.