CERAMICS

Teotihuacan was a big cultural centre where the production of ceramics was at a very high level. In order to make the ceramics they would make the product (mask, pots, figures, etc.) by hand and put it in the oven to bake the clay. These products were obliged to follow certain stylistic cannons. These stylistic cannons can be found on every item that is made of clay. For instance, the figures of the warriors, which has masks on their faces presenting the animas, so their clothing is all covered with lines to present animal fur or birds pens. Other example of using ceramics is the figures of the dogs. They are usually presented lying on the floor, rolled up. The most decorated items are the pots or vases. Before baking the vase, they would put lines on it, which would present geometrical forms, like circles or squares, all around the surface of the vase.

One of such figures is a ceramic whistle vase with a monkey. It is usually one pot or two pots that are connected. The pots are often decorated with flowers or animals like birds or jaguars, there are also lines all around the pot. On the top there is a figure of the monkey that is sitting with its legs bended to its chest and with its hands on the top of the cover. On the monkey’s head there are openings that are making whistling sounds. Perhaps, the water was put in the pots and then the water would be boiled, so the air that that was coming out through the openings in the monkeys head would make a whistling sound.

Music and dance must have been a frequent element of the public or religious ceremonies. Whistles and flutes are the most common instruments that were discovered in Teotihuacan.

Elena Migurenko