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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Factual: History

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells humanity's history through objects

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, narrates 100 programmes that retell humanity's history through the objects we have made.

A History of the World in 100 Objects: Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD): Statue of Huastec goddess

Statue of Huastec Goddess

Statue of Huastec goddess

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

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Neil MacGregor with the sculpture of a goddess made by the Huastec people of Mexico.

This week Neil MacGregor is meeting the gods. Today he is in Mexico, with the sculpture of a goddess made by the Huastec people of Mexico associated with sexuality and fertility.

The history of humanity as told through one hundred objects from the British Museum in London is in Mexico. This week Neil MacGregor is meeting the Gods - exploring the sophistication of religious art in the 14th and 15th centuries as people around the world created physical expressions for devotion and for representing the divine.

 
Today he is with a striking sandstone sculpture of a goddess made by the Huastec people of present day Mexico. This remarkable figure stands bare breasted with hands folded over her stomach and wearing a remarkable fan-shaped headdress. She has been associated with the later Aztec goddess of sexuality and fertility.  


The writer Marina Warner describes the power of the goddess figure in matters of fertility and sexuality while the art historian Kim Richter describes the particular nature of Huastec society and sculpture.


Producer: Anthony Denselow


A History of the World in 100 Objects: Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Objects from the British Museum show how the faithful were brought closer to their gods

From Mexico to Easter Island, the followers of many world religions used objects to become closer to their gods. Neil MacGregor finds five such devotional items

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

Meeting The Gods (1200 - 1400 AD)

Statue of Huastec goddess

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