---
title: Aztec Double-Headed Serpent (Detail)
author: British Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2199/aztec-double-headed-serpent-detail/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2022-07-27
---
# Aztec Double-Headed Serpent (Detail)
_Authored by British Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/2199.png)
## Image Caption
A detail of the celebrated [Aztec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) double-headed serpent. It is made from wood covered in turquoise [mosaic](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mosaic/), spondylus (red) and conch (white) shell. The eyes would have been rendered with inlay, probably of iron pyrite. The piece is believed to have been part of a ceremonial costume, worn as a pectoral. The snake was a potent image in Aztec [religion](https://www.worldhistory.org/religion/) and strongly associated with several deities, notably [Quetzalcoatl](https://www.worldhistory.org/Quetzalcoatl/). 15th-16th century CE. (British Museum, London)
## Bibliography
- [British Museum](http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/t/double-headed_serpent.aspx "British Museum"), accessed 1 Dec 2016.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, B. (2014, January 03). Aztec Double-Headed Serpent (Detail). *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, British. "Aztec Double-Headed Serpent (Detail)." *World History Encyclopedia*, January 03, 2014. .
### MLA
Museum, British. "Aztec Double-Headed Serpent (Detail)." *World History Encyclopedia*, 03 Jan 2014, .
## License & Copyright
The British Museum has released this image under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International ([CC BY-NC-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)) license. You can read more about the British Museum and Creative Commons [here](https://www.britishmuseum.org/about_this_site/terms_of_use/copyright_and_permissions.aspx). [Original image](https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1894-634) by [**British Museum**](https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1894-634). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 03 January 2014. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.