Above the cleft mask in the Olmec lord's headdress sprouts the trefoil vegetation motif. When rulers wear the trefoil crown, they signal their power to ensure agricultural fertility. In the Olmec heartland, such royal portraits are seen on both monumental and portable sculptures. The cross-legged position established the format for later Maya kings, as seen on Late Classic period painted ceramics. The seated Olmec lord wears a headdress, belt, and cape.

The back curving cleft cranium of the Olmec Maize God denotes young, growing maize (Taube 1996, 47-48).

References:
Benson, Elizabeth P. 1971. An Olmec Figure at Dumbarton Oaks. Dumbarton Studies 8.
Taube, Karl. 1996, The Olmec Maize God, RES 29/30: 39-81.

Seated Lord Wearing Headdress and Cape (detail)
Arroyo Pesquero, Veracruz, Mexico
Diopside
16.3 x 9.3 cm
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections, Washington, D.C.



Copyright 2005 Los Angeles County Museum of Art