An ancient Mayan figurine with a removable helmet
This little guy looks surprisingly similar to many of today’s action figurines. In fact, it would look right at home in a toy store aisle if it were made out of plastic instead of ceramic. Nevertheless, it was not meant to be played with. Do you want to know what it was actually meant for?
It represents a dwarf boxer, a supernatural being who, through its ritual boxing moves, helped call down the rains. It was found in a grave, alongside several other figurines, during the excavation of the ancient city of El Perú-Waka’ in modern Petén, Guatemala.