Dog-shaped pot

Add to album

This dog-shaped pot comes from a shaft-and-chamber tomb. It was buried with the dead as one of the grave gifts; perhaps it contained food or drink. Dogs were symbolically important creatures, guiding souls into the Underworld and guarding the way.

This pot is in the shape of a hairless Mexican dog, with a plump belly and alert expression. The spout of the pot is in the dog's tail.

Many shaft-and-chamber tombs were built for multiple burials in West Mexico between 300 BC-AD 200.Grave goods included variously-shaped pots. Dog pots were popular, as dogs were believed to have magical powers. Fattened dogs were sacrificed at feasts.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-104-665-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1956.762
• Date: 300 BC - 200 AD
  Between 300 BC and 200 AD
  
• Material: Vessel / pot
  
• Dimensions: 8.75" H x 12.50" L
  
• What: Vessel / pot
  
• Subject: Pottery vessels
  
• Who:
• Where: Mexico, Ancient Mexico, Colima
  
• Event:
• Description: Vessel made of light red pottery in the form of a hairless dog with the tail forming a spout: Ancient Mexico, from Colima, Aztec period, 300 BC - 200 AD
  
• References:
  • Gallagher, J. 1983. Companions of the Dead: Ceramic Tomb Sculptures from Ancient West Mexico. Los Angeles: UCLA 
  • Townsend, R F. (ed) 1998. Ancient West Mexico: Art and Archaeology of the Unknown Past. London: Thames & Hudson. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: