OLMEC JADE MASK ART

The Olmec of ancient Mexico carved exquisite votive axes and masks from jadeite, depicting baby-faced rain deities and jaguar-human hybrids with downturned mouths. These 3,000-year-old artworks—part of an inclusive Mesoamerican heritage—reveal the early cult of jade as a symbol of life force and rulership, their polished green surfaces still captivating the modern eye.