| pre-columbian |
 Costa Rican Ax Pendant Called ax god pendants these ornaments take avian or anthropomorphic forms, usually the head or upper part of the body with a ax or celt like lower part, thus the term ax gods. This one is in the form of a large beaked bird head, probably a king Vulture, one of the symbols of a principle deity in Costa Rica. This example is carved of a very fine blue green jade, which was also used by the Olmecs, and was found in Guatemala we have recently discovered. It is pierced through so that it would hang vertically with the beak protruding in front. |