The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 14, 2025

Necklace

150–200 CE

Central Mexico, Teotihuacán, Classic period

jadeite-albitite?
Overall: 40.3 cm (15 7/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener 1990.263.1.a
Location: 233 Mesoamerican and Intermediate Region

Description

Near Teotihuacán’s largest palace is a temple ornamented with green-feathered serpents, symbols of the earth’s fertility. Beneath the temple were at least 120 human sacrifices, most men, many warriors, and some wearing greenstone ornaments like these, perhaps a set. The sacrifices may have consecrated the temple or a ruler’s tomb, or both.
  • Valetta Swan
    1965
    James and Florence Gruener, Cleveland
    (Valetta Swan); James and Florence Gruener, Cleveland, 1965
  • {{cite web|title=Necklace|url=false|author=|year=150–200 CE|access-date=14 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1990.263.1.a