Plaque with figure of a Python. Edo. African Nigeria, Kingdom of Benin (16th- 17th century). Brass The Baltimore Museum of Art: Gift of Alan Wurtzburger, by exchange BMA 1958.58 In the 17th century, the wooden pillars of the ancient royal palace of Benin (now destroyed) were covered with hundreds of brass plaques. Some plaques depict the king and court officials, others a symbol of royality, such as a python, mudfish or crocodile. The python, a messenger of the water god, Olokun, represents the spiritual power that descends upon royalty. It appeared also as an immense brass image mounted on a turret of the palace, as depicted in another plaque (photo).