Lot Essay
Cf. Mayan Vase Archive, K1202, for similar female attendants
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LATE CLASSIC, CA. A.D. 550 - 950
Details
FINE MAYAN PAINTED VESSEL
LATE CLASSIC, ca. A.D. 550 - 950
painted in codex style with a scene from the watery realm of a pond indicated by the dark band of loose waves from which emerge the torsos of seven deities, the central and youthful Maize God, gesturing and leaning forward, his tonsured coiffure encircled by a headband ornamented with the head of a long-nosed deity, flanked by five voluptuous female attendants, each bare-chested and bejewelled, one presenting an implement, probably a sacrificial knife with three knots indicating a 'penis-perforator,' to a gesturing female whose back is turned to the Maize God, the last character is Hunahpu, one of the Hero Twins, holding a bundle knotted at the top, possibly a stack of bark paper, his turban ornamented with the mask of the Jester God, glyphs encircling one half of the vessel, possibly identifiying the female attendants names.
Height 4 3/4 in. (12 cm.)
LATE CLASSIC, ca. A.D. 550 - 950
painted in codex style with a scene from the watery realm of a pond indicated by the dark band of loose waves from which emerge the torsos of seven deities, the central and youthful Maize God, gesturing and leaning forward, his tonsured coiffure encircled by a headband ornamented with the head of a long-nosed deity, flanked by five voluptuous female attendants, each bare-chested and bejewelled, one presenting an implement, probably a sacrificial knife with three knots indicating a 'penis-perforator,' to a gesturing female whose back is turned to the Maize God, the last character is Hunahpu, one of the Hero Twins, holding a bundle knotted at the top, possibly a stack of bark paper, his turban ornamented with the mask of the Jester God, glyphs encircling one half of the vessel, possibly identifiying the female attendants names.
Height 4 3/4 in. (12 cm.)
Further details
The scene is sometimes referred to as 'before the dressing of the Maize God' and the multitude of females are probably the same character, a version of God A, a deity with many attributes, one of which is the God of Death.