Nicoya Female Jaguar-Shaman Figure
2018 © Maxim Tabachnik
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Nicoya Female Jaguar-Shaman Figure

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This terracotta sculpture (500 BC–1400 AD) from the Nicoya culture blends human and feline traits, likely depicting a female shaman in transformation. The feline face, spotted limbs, and upright posture suggest a ritual connection to the jaguar, a powerful symbol of strength, fertility, and the spirit world in Mesoamerican cosmology.