Vila Wolf's Dyslexic Folklorist Ranting

Cylinder vase

Maya Late Classic Period A.D. 650–800

Object Place: Department of El Petén, Guatemala

The wrap-around scene on this vase depicts the presentation of gifts or tribute to a seated lord. The scene has supernatural connotations given that God N (identified by the turtle shell on his back), one of the lords of the Underworld, is present among the seated participants. The enthroned lord looks towards the six presenters, a large cylinder vessel in front of the throne perhaps containing a kakaw (chocolate-based) or fermented beverage. Six seated figures face the lord, each presenting a different gift or tribute item, including a small sculpture portraying a seated figure that may be the Maize god, a vulture head that may be a full head mask, a decorated olla (a liquid-carrying jar), a bowl containing frothy kakaw or atole (a maize-based gruel), and what appears to be a divination mirror.

The hieroglyphic text around the rim is a Primary Standard Sequence text that refers to the vessel and its contents. The shorter texts painted within the scene refer to the enthroned lord and the pictured event.

MFA

Tripod plate with rattle feet

Maya Late Classic Period A.D. 600–750

Place of Origin: Department of El Petén, Guatemala, Tikal area

“Supported on tripod rattle legs encircled by a stepped band, the tondo brightly painted with a warrior, possibly one of the Hero Twins displaying insignia of Xbalanque with spotted cheek, holding a trophy-head by a long hank of hair, and a long staff in the left hand wrapped with blood-spattered cloths, wearing a distinctive shaggy costume with tail, a pectoral of crossed bones with scarf below, his headband with large beads securing thick coiffure and a streamer flowing at the back, flanked by seven glyphs, the three on the left noting the date of the event and possibly the name of the decapitated individual, the right upper hand glyph possibly naming the central figure, and the walls encircled by repeat glyphs and jaguar pelt motifs.” [from Sotheby’s catalogue text]

Torture and sacrifice were crucial rituals that sought to ensure the balance of the universe. Here, a sacrificial decapitation reenacts that of the Maize god by the lords of the Underworld, leading to his resurrection.

MFA