Museo de Oro

 Recently Kristin, Chuck, and I went to visit the Museo de Oro (Museum of Gold) while Jamie stayed home to play with her wonderful grandson.  The museum contains pre-colombian artifacts from before 800 b.c. until the discovery of South America by Christopher Columbus.  These priceless artifacts are mostly made of gold using an ingenious process of forming molds using other metals and wood lined with wax.  The gold melts the wax to create the desired form.

Here are some of the more complex designs.

 Helmet

 Breast Plate

 Mask

 Statue

The pre-colombian inhabitants believed gold represented the most powerful god of the sun because of its brilliance and strength as it did not fade, corrode or tarnish like other metals.  The Shamans and Chieftain wore breastplates, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc to demonstrate their social standing, power and authority as one chosen by the gods.

Full body decorations

 Full body decorations

 Earrings and noise rings

 Various earrings, face decorations and trinkets

Later on, pre-colombians discovered how to make gold sheets that they would cover ordinary objects with.  Below is a sea shell that had been covered in gold sheets.  The shell itself is long gone, having deterioted over time.  What remains is a beautiful gold shell.

We really enjoyed the gold museum and recommend it to anyone visiting Bogota.  The beauty and awe of the objects mixed with the rich history and antique methods used to create such fascinating pieces cannot be captured on camera.

Here are some additional photos of stonework and of course, more gold!!!

Stone statue

 Figures made by using the melting wax method

 "wall of gold"

We will update you all later with more photos as our journey continues.  Take care and love you all.

Matt, Kristin and Michael