Religious Artifacts

Religion has been a very important role in people's lives all through history and even today. These 12 artifacts show how religion was viewed over the years. Whether they were for an Egyptian priest or a Native American shaman these objects have played a key role in history.  

Mummy of Hornedjitef (2000000-9000 BCE)

This is the mummy of an Egyptian priest who was buried in an ornate coffin. Examining his body using CAT scans and X-rays showed that he was a mature man when he died. This coffin was made from wood and was 194 centimeters tall. When ancient Egyptians died they believed they were going on a journey from Earth to the afterlife. The process of mummification and elaborate coffins allowed them to move on to the next world. This coffin is decorated with images of gods and extracts from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. The sky goddess Nut is painted symbolically showing Hornedjitef in her womb ready to experience rebirth.

Maya Maize God Statue (2000000-9000 BCE)

This Mayan maize god statue was found in a temple in modern-day Honduras and was surrounded by many other maize gods. It was carved from stone and is 90 centimeters tall. In Mayan religion the maize god was decapitated at harvest time but reborn at the beginning of a new growing season. This helped explain the cycle of the seasons and the return of maize which Mayan civilisation depended on.

Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel (1100-300 BCE)



This ritual vessel has been decorated with large tusked animal heads swallowing birds. It was made from metal and is 23 centimeters tall. Respect for ancestors has been a central part of Chinese culture for many years and this vessel helped to show that. It was used for offering food to ancestors because it was believed that those who made the sacrifices were ensured survival and success.

North American Otter Pipe (1-600 AD)

This otter pipe was made by Native Americans living in what is now Ohio.  It was made from stone and is 5 centimeters tall. A shaman smoked it for religious reasons such as to show the otter as a representative of his clan, or possibly as a spirit guide who would then help the shaman on a spiritual journey. This pipe was one of over 200 found in a burial mound.

Seated Buddha from Gandhara (200-600 AD)

This early depiction of the Buddha shows him in an enlightened state in the lotus position. It was carved from stone and is 94 centimeters tall. The way his hands are positioned show that he is revealing the dharma, also known as his teachings. This statue would have been placed in front of a domed structure enclosed on the Buddha's ashes, also called a stupa. Many people would have contemplated the Buddha's teaching by this statue.

Arabian Bronze Hand (200-600 AD)

This hand was given as an offering to the pre-Islamic Yemenis god Talab Riyam. It was formed in bronze and is approximately 19 centimeters long.  The right hand was seen as a sign of good luck and the writing on the hand seems to be asking for well-being.  The man who dedicated it was named Wahab Talab and it is believed that since he shared a name with the god he was of a very high status.  

Maya Relief of Royal Blood-Letting (700-950 AD)

This relief was taken from the doorway in a Mayan temple and shows a blood-letting ritual. It was carved from stone and is 109 centimeters tall. In the relief King Shield Jaguar III's wife Lady Xook is seen pulling thorns through her tongue. She is doing so to contact her husband's ancestors. It was believed that, as a ruler, knowledge was only gained through communicating with spirits. A ruler's power was determined by the knowledge gained from doing the blood-letting ceremony.

Statue of Tara (700-950 AD)

This statue represents the spiritual and sensual Buddhist goddess Tara. It was crafted from metal and is 143 centimeters tall.  This statue would have been placed next to her male counterpart, the bodhisattva, Avalokiteshevara in a Buddhist temple.  It was the center for meditation because a bodhisattva was a person who had reached enlightenment but elected to stay behind to help the rest of mankind reach enlightenment as well.   

Taino Ritual Seat (1200-1400 AD)

This seat, also known as a duho, was crafted by a Taino artisan.  It was carved from wood and is 22 centimeters tall. The Taino people lived in the pre-European Caribbean.  The seat was carved to look like a cemi, or spirit. A Taino chief would sit in this seat and snort snuff made from seeds to communicate with their ancestors. The chief would then ask all the spirits for advice on any important decisions they had to make.   

Holy Thorn Reliquary (1200-1400 AD)

The crown of thorns Jesus wore as he was crucified was considered one of the most sought after relics in Christianity.  This relic was crafted from metal and approximately 30 centimeters tall. King Louis IX paid as much as half the total expenditure of France for the relic in 1239. Medieval Christians used relics as a way to get closer to the saint the relic was thought to come from or even Christ himself.  Relics were considered very important in their religion and wars were even started over them.  

Sculpture of Huastec Goddess (1200-1400 AD)

The Huastecs were a people conquered by the Aztecs in the 1450's. This statue is carved from stone and is 150 centimeters tall. Statues like this one were the main focus of the Huastec religion. This goddess was merged with the Aztec goddess Tlazolteotl and became the goddess of sexuality and fertility. The Huastecs believed that carving statues of gods could be very dangerous and so they often prayed preformed rituals and fasted while creating them.    

Shi'a Religious Parade Standard (1550-1700 AD)

In Iran, approximately 400 years ago, standards similar to this one were used in many religious processions.  This particular standard is made from metal and is 127 centimeters long. It is in the shape of Imam Ali's sword. Imam Ali was the husband of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammad. It was widely believed by Shi'a Muslims that Imam Ali would be Mohammad's successor.