A Fine Zapotec Figural Urn with Cocijo Deity Medallions , Monte Alban, IIIA ca. A.D. 200-400

the urn of "God with mask of the God Cocijo displayed as Medallion of the Headdress", the deity of lightening and rain with buccal mask and merlon brows centered in the massive headdress, flanked by six stripped ears of corn showing prominent kernels and corn silk flowing outward, larger cobs at each side,  the youthful figure with large tasseled ear ornaments and bib decorated with a human mask within the quadripartite medallion; a large cylindrical vessel intact at the back;  with remains of red pigment. 

Allan Long Collection

Overall very good, mainly intact but some areas of work. Only significant loss was the center plume at the far back of headdress 5" across at the top. Other fills are minor:lower right corner of medallion on the skirt, very bottom edge of at center-right, small bit of right wrist ornament , small silk arch of corn on the PL side of small maize ears.
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This Monte Alban style promotes agricultural abundance with exuberant  maize and rain god symbols. Cocijo, the god of lightening and rain, is the most powerful supernatural of the Zapotec world. His bifid tongue and eyes show his evolution from lightening shown as a fire-serpent. In early Epoch II (100 B.C.-A.D. 200)  he becomes the nahualli, the mythic protector, of youthful rulers. See Marcus and Flannery (1996:159); and Boos (1966: figs. 52, 53, 55), for the category.