Tarascan Collection

MEXICO: INDIANS, c1500. P urhepecha (Tarascan) Indians of Michoacan Province, Mexico, flee their village shortly before the arrival of Spanish conquistadors

Effigy vessel representing a dog wearing a mask in the form of a human face
XBP351808 Effigy vessel representing a dog wearing a mask in the form of a human face, Colima style (pottery) by Pre-Columbian; height: 21 cm; Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico City

Chac mool, from Tzintzuntzan, Michoacana, 10th-13th century (stone)
XIR158687 Chac mool, from Tzintzuntzan, Michoacana, 10th-13th century (stone) by Pre-Columbian; 80x145 cm; Museo Regional Michoacano, Morelia

Straw cottages, Salamanca, Mexico, late 19th century. Artist: John L Stoddard
Straw cottages, Salamanca, Mexico, late 19th century. Traditional dwellings of the Tarascan people in the state of Guanajuato

Costumes of the Tarascan people of Michoacan, Mexico, . Handcolored lithograph from Friedrich Wilhelm Goedsches Complete Gallery of Peoples in True Pictures, Meissen, circa 1835-1840

MEXICO: INDIANS, c1500. Priests of the P urhepecha (Tarascan) Indians of Michoacan Province stand in front of temple steps covered in blood following a human sacrifice

MEXICO: INDIANS, c1500. Warfare among the P urhepecha (Tarascan) Indians of Michoacan Province, Mexico. Illustration, early 16th century

Mexico, Michoacan, Morelia. The Tarascan Fountain, featuring Tarascan women, and the aquaduct are landmarks of this colonial city

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Amidst the lush landscapes of Michoacan, Mexico, around 1500, the Purepecha (Tarascan) Indians lived in harmony with nature. Their culture, rich in rituals and traditions, was about to face an unprecedented challenge with the arrival of Spanish conquistadors. In this illustration, we see a group villagers hastily fleeing their homes, their faces etched with fear and uncertainty. The Tarascan civilization was known for its intricate art, as evidenced by this effigy vessel depicting a dog wearing a mask in the form of a human face. This artistry extended to their religious practices, as seen in the stone Chac mool from Tzintzuntzan, which represents a deity associated with fertility and sustenance. Despite the beauty of their culture, the Tarascan people were not immune to conflict. This late 19th-century depiction of straw cottages in Salamanca shows the simplicity of their dwellings, while the intricately designed Tarascan costumes hint at the complexity of their society. The Tarascan priesthood held significant power in their community, as seen in this image priests performing ceremonies. Warfare was also a part of their society, as evidenced by this depiction warriors in battle. In the heart of Michoacan's capital, Morelia, stands the Tarascan Fountain, a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Tarascan people. The fountain features Tarascan women, their faces adorned with the traditional headdresses, symbolizing the strength and grace of this ancient civilization.