The Meaning of Gold Artifacts in Pre-Columbian Cultures
by STELLA SARMIENTO
Through the years of studying Pre-Columbian and Pre-Hispanic Cultures, I find fascinating how all they created in GOLD, were designed as an interpretation of their everyday lives and believes. Each piece is important not only for its Artistic value but for the intrinsic content that led to the creation of each piece.
Symbols were of great importance in the Cultures, and they represented all that surrounded them: Nature, Animals, Objects, Humans, their Heavens, Life and Death, these were given symbols that were then captured in their extraordinary works of Gold.
GOLD was considered as the “Secret Glint” an interplay of LIGHT and SHADE, an exchange of ENERGY a relationship between the GOLD and the SUN, being the SUN a god in many of the Cultures.
They associate the GOLD with the SUN due to the similarity of the GOLD Color with the SUN, converting it in the Sacred Metal.
GOLD also determined:
SOCIAL or RELIGIOUS Levels, GOLD was worn mostly but not uniquely by the SHAMANS who were the Religious highest levels and most important members of the Societies.
It also had a connotation of Protection and Reverence and so it is, that in our Latin American Countries even today, people wear gold in high carat content not only as an adornment but also as a protector from EVIL, following the laws of our Ancient Cultures.
“Goldsmiths” were associated with MAGIC, though they transformed the METAL from Profane to a SACRED State.
Their techniques in the transformation of GOLD were very primitive, but some of those primitive steps are still used today with some modern added technology.
Let’s look at some samples of their Creations with the Meaning and Interpretation of each piece:
This is the representation of a Shaman with many added symbols:
The Top part of the Crown has been designed with SPIRALS (which represent ETERNAL Life – Life after Death).
To the right and Left of the FACE you will se in a schematic shape the profile of a BIRD on each side (BIRDS were one of the most important symbols in Pre-Columbian Cultures as they represented Good Fortune: They believed that they would always bring Good News in their returning FLIGHTS).
On top of the Head is a BIRD in 3D design.
He is playing the Flute the instrument of the wind (the connector with the sacred spiritual world).
The Jaguar with Spirals (left Picture) – JAGUARS were worshiped as gods.
Represented with the CURLED Tail, a shape that was depicted in many other designs as on the picture on the right, where the schematic Human Figure of the TOLIMA Cultures has the 4 extremities in the center of the figure and the tail of the JAGUAR in two directions on the bottom of the design.
Women Sitting Down with Birds
This Quimbaya Culture Design has a couple of important symbols:
The woman is holding on her hands 4 BIRDS which represent GOOD Fortune.
On her nose and from the BIRDS detach NOSE ORNAMENTS which were used for many different reasons: to disguise the wearers’ face during the rituals and as an adornment as well.
Thousands of Nose Ornaments were designed
WOMEN played a very important role in the CulturesThey were highly respected due to the capability of procreation and in many cases, they occupied governmental positions, they were unique to the stamping of fabrics with mineral colors.
Pre-Columbian Jewelry DesignsCultures created MAGNIFICENT Jewelry Designs, pieces that remain in the Museums of Pre-Columbian Cultures around the World.
