PORTR-MT nCURINES NLY H. WE BEEN One of the most numerous figurine t}pes at Teotihuacan. The bodies of these figurines were handmade until the end of the ancient city, even though the heads became moldmade around the Early Xolalpan ceramic phase. A group of late Metepec figurines found in excavation indicate that the faces may have been painted. The stylized pose of the portrait figurine is an unmistakable trademark. The cupped hands, bent knees and arms, and thrust-forward head have caused some researchers to call them dancers. It is unlikely that they were in fact dancers any more than they were actual portraits of indniduals. The term portrait comes from the chiseled, clearly anthropomorphic structure and features of the head.
The portrait figurines represent males. Their elongated heads and handmade bodies, sometimes with a distinct loincloth, contrast sharplv with the wide faces and flattened bodies of the puppet figurines. WTile there are questions of human or deity identity for other figurine ppes at Teotihuacan, researchers seem to agree these represent the people ofTeotihuacan. Florencia Miiller thought that perishable attire may have clothed these figurines and that the hands may have held miniature shields and spears. She may well have been correct. The portraits seem to represent the Teotihuacan Everyman. The standard posture and simplicity with perishable clothing gives the ultimate flexibility in the representation of status and rank in ceremonies that may have linked the indhidual to the Teotihuacan state. VT5
World History
