The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 14, 2025
Butterfly Nose Ornament
150–200 CE
Overall: 4.8 x 6.5 x 0.4 cm (1 7/8 x 2 9/16 x 3/16 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gruener 1990.263.2
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); James and Florence Gruener, Cleveland, 1965
- {{cite web|title=Butterfly Nose Ornament|url=false|author=|year=150–200 CE|access-date=14 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1990.263.2