The Dance of Death

I'm working on an article about Monte Alban for Aishti magazine, and have been researching these sculptures. Though they are called
"danzantes" or dancers, these carvings--over 300 have been excavated--most likely depict captured leaders of neighborhing kingdoms who were castrated and/or disemboweled. Some of the carvings have scroll patterns symbolizing blood. Scholars theorize that the blood would have been used in religious offerings or in fertility rituals.