#preconquest

The original Día de los Muertos was an Aztec festival dedicated to Goddess Mictēcacihuātl, Queen of death and the afterlife. Prior to Spanish conquest, the festival took place at the beginning of August and lasted for an entire month.  

By the late 20th century, the indigenous festival had been reduced to three days during the imported catholic observances of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, from October 31 to November 2.

Quimbaya gold helmet 250-430 CE  Colombia

Gold breastplate, Colombia, 200 - 1000 C.E.

This gold chest plate with feminine breasts was made to hang from the neck of an important person. The gold ornaments represented the sacred power of the leaders and their capacity of summoning the community when directing ceremonies and rituals.  Chest plates were used by women holding important religious positions, but also by male chieftains.  Perhaps by using these ornaments they could magically obtain the symbolic and biologic virtues of women.