Page 585 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

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PAIR OF MALE AND FEMALE of a mound at the Etowah site in northwestern ENGRAVED PALETTE
Georgia (Larson 1971). Pairs of male and female
SHRINE FIGURES figures are a specialty of the South Appalachian 1080-1550
1200-1350 Mississippian culture. These material representa- Middle Mississippian culture (Moundville)
South Appalachian Mississippian tions of the ancestor gods were probably kept in a stone
culture (Wilbanks) shrine building once located on the summit of the 31.9 (i2V 2)
marble mound. This building appears to have burned,
Etowah Mounds
State Historic Site —Georgia
each 61 (24) after which these figures were removed and Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta
Etowah Mounds State Historic Site —Georgia lowered into a large grave. The human bones and
Department of Natural Resources, Atlanta miscellaneous objects also found in this grave
probably were removed from the shrine at the Palettes were used to grind pigments for paint;
same time. The male figure was broken when it they sometimes retain traces of color. The image
These two painted marble shrine figures were was placed originally in the grave; the female fig- on the face of this palette seems to portray the
discovered together in a tomb built into the side ure was found upright on the floor. j. A. B. solar deity. The serpent border resembles the

584 CIRCA 1492