Pub Scholar Presents - Gods, Power & Sacrifice: Art of Mesoamerica

Lectures by professors and subject experts on mind-stimulating topics, served up at cool Bay Area bars.

Date: Tuesday, June 30th 2026 🌙

Time: 6:30 PM ⏳

Location: Mother Tongue, Oakland

Lecture: “Gods, Power, & Sacrifice: Art of Mesoamerica” 🖼️

Speaker: Katie Ligmond, PhD, Art History Professor (Santa Clara University) 🧠

Beneath towering temples, stone gods, and blood-soaked ritual lay some of the most powerful artistic traditions in human history. Dr. Ligmond will guide us through the worlds of the Aztec, Maya, and other ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, where art was never merely decorative, but deeply tied to cosmology, sacrifice, warfare, and divine power.

From sacred imagery and ceremonial architecture to coded symbols of death, rebirth, and rulership, we’ll explore how these civilizations used art to shape empires and communicate with forces beyond the human world. This evening invites you into a visual culture both breathtaking and unsettling. Step into a world where stone carried prophecy, gods demanded spectacle, and art stood at the center of survival.

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Info: Doors open! Our event is open seating, so come early to grab a seat and grab your drinks + food.

Info: Mingle, grow your bar tab, vibe!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar, 308 41st Street, Oakland, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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