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Several representations of fishes like this have been found. It is not improbable that they once were strung to form a fish necklace, with each individual bead/fish hanging from its mouth. Whether these were just naturalistic renderings or had ritual meaning (fish were often associated with the Underworld) is difficult to ascertain without more context information.




Fish pendant
Mexica (Aztec)
Late Post-Classic period (1325-1521 A.D.)
Mexico City
Mother-of-pearl, with incised and drilled features
7.5 cm.
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.

Photo © Jorge Pérez de Lara