Effigies, Part I

October 23, 2011
Dr. Anthony Peet

(Olmec Effigy from Wikimedia)

What is an effigy?
 If you dig through the pages of a dictionary, you’ll find effigy basically defined as a three-dimensional object that represents the form of a person. Archaeology defines effigy in a slightly broader sense by including figures of animals.

Despite the apparent limitations of what an effigy is, in archaeology an effigy can range in size from small wooden figurines to the acre-consuming earthen Effigy Mounds of the eastern United States. Perhaps the most typical effigy is a monument or statue honoring someone. The earliest known tomb effigies adorn the sarcophagi of Egyptian kings, but similar effigies can be found on coffins all across Europe, from those of thirteenth century French knights to the Elizabethan tombs in St. Mary’s Church.

Effigies have been used for political purposes while criminals have been symbolically executed ‘in effigy’. Effigies of 17th century conspirator, Guy Fawkes, for example, are still burned on November 5th in England.

Effigies can have casual uses too. Southwestern pottery makers often created bowls, mugs and ollas in the form of, or decorated with figures of snakes, lizards and other animals. A child’s doll could be considered an effigy while small stone effigies might be used in jewelry and personal adornment.

With so many variations and uses, what classification does our effigy fall into? Interesting question. First of all, the figure is more creature than human, though no feathered reptile exists in the animal world. However, in the kingdom of Mesoamerican deities, there exists the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl.

Which suggests that we’ve encroached upon yet another type of effigy - the effigies of gods.