Synopses & Reviews
In an elegant 17th-century house in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador, visitors can find some 5,000 archeological masterworks created in a range of raw materials by ancient peoples. The house, the Casa del Alabado, or House of Praise, passed its name to the museum, a fitting one for the space that contains a unique collection of indigenous works of art, with some 500 pieces permanently on view. This book brings the art to a wider public, explaining the worldview and philosophy of these ancient people, in particular the importance of preserving life by maintaining the flow of cosmic energy and spiritual communication between the distinct worlds that made up their universe.
Synopsis
-A wonderful world of hope, metaphors and ideas, which in spite of the time that has passed is very similar to the world we live in now Archaeological objects offer outstanding opportunities to explore the way people conceived life in past ages. Their study demonstrates that subjects such as fertility, myths, rituals and cosmogony are embedded in all man-made artefacts, as they have always been part of daily human life. Even when creating artefacts for individual use, we have adopted imaginative and ingenious ways to represent and convey a message, a narrative that is a facet of our personal and social identity. That's why the amulets presented in this outstanding catalogue hold secrets: memories of deeds, lands and sacred representations. Objects used as offerings are full of life: the warrior recalls his heroic condition during his long mortal journey; the deceased person, who travels to the other world equipped with his objects of power, arrives satisfied and disposed to be generous toward his descendants, who receive fertility and well-being in return. The choice of materials is a fundamental aspect of such objects. The use of metals, for example, is etched into the language of social communication, whereas the vital force that moves the universe is found immersed to a large degree in magical materials like fired clay, the product of extensive chemical transformation, or shell, a product of the sea, its brilliance a sign of spirituality, or imperishable gold, which is the embodiment of the Sun itself, ductile and able to express extraordinary religious ideas. This catalogue introduces us to this world of magic, life and death. Text in English and Spanish.
Synopsis
A wonderful world of hope, metaphors and ideas, which in spite of the time that has passed is very similar to the world we live in now. This catalogue introduces us to this world of magic, life and death.
Synopsis
The charms and amulets presented in this book offer a unique opportunity to explore the way people in Pre-Columbian Ecuador interpreted their lives. The choice of material—metals, shells, fired clay, gold—reflect different meanings and religious ideas. Taken alone every artifact tells a story; in concert they construct a narrative about the people who made them, revealing beliefs about fertility and death, marriage, and the origins of the universe. Stunning photos of these artifacts, accompanied by a text examining their meanings, provide an intriguing introduction to an ancient world.
About the Author
Ivan Cruz Cevallos is scientific advisor to the Casa del Alabado and president of the Alejandro Labaka Foundation. Christian Mesand#237;a Montenegro is the director of the Pre-Columbian Museum Casa del Alabado.