These dramatic earrings depict the Cruz de Yalalag. This is a prehispanic symbol originating from the town of Villa Hidalgo in Oaxaca. This cross is based on the cosmic, social and theogonic concept that crosses have had in all of Mesoamerican culture since before the conquest of the Spanish and the evangelizing of missionaries in what is today, Latin America.
The cross symbolizes the world, with its four corners and directions. The East-West defines the solar direction of God, who is born in the East and dies symbolically every day in the West. The South-North is the human direction, which is vital in the South and deadly in the North.
This meaning is added upon with the cross of Yalalag with the addition of the three hanging crosses. The three hanging crosses each represent a natural element. The left represents the heavens, the right, land and central, the key to interpret this cross, is the wind, element of intermediation that opens the possibility of passing from heaven to earth or earth to heaven.
Sterling silver. About 5 inches long.
Approx 28 grams.
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