Created by the Quimbaya people of Colombia, this stunning gold poporo is a container to hold powdered lime, which would later be mixed with coca leaves and used for homeopathic remedies. This poporo is crafted in the form of a seated scantily clad woman. Dating to c. 400 B.C.E., it is nearly 10 inches tall.
Frequently shaped like women, poporos were symbols of fertility. Leaders of the Quimbaya used them in fertility rites.
The Quimbaya are known for their impressively detailed goldwork. For the Quimbaya, gold was an important cultural resource, since it was believed to guard against evil, be a pleasing sacrifice to the gods and enhance the afterlife as a burial good.
This golden poporo, originally found at Pueblo Rico, can be seen in the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, Colombia.