Mayan Vessel, 6th Century CE - 9th Century CE
Terracotta
5.875
PF.3572
The Maya in their great temple cities reached the summit of the classical age in Ancient Meso-America. In those temple cities, great artistic expressions such as murals and sculptures flourished....
The Maya in their great temple cities reached the summit of the classical age in Ancient Meso-America. In those temple cities, great artistic expressions such as murals and sculptures flourished. It is during this classical period in which artists refined their skills to represent human form, deities, and other symbolic sculptures. Used in various rituals and ceremonies, their art embodied rich symbolism, laden with complex meanings that largely remain esoteric. This remarkably sculpted vessel is dressed in warmth of the orange color. Complex hieroglyphs and images are rendered in beige colored lines, creating light and soft quality. Below the top rim is a band of hieroglyphs, and the body of the vessel displays a graphic image of a possible ritual scene. Between two kneeling men is a curious structure that seems to be the center of the men's attention and respect. Both men are facing the structure with their open palms that seem to be receiving something from the structure. Perhaps the elaborately rendered structure is a divine being that is giving knowledge or power to these high priests or dignitaries. Although we may not know the specific details of such image, we are certain that ancient Mayan societal structure and rituals were highly complex. As historical and artistic evidence, the great value of this vessel is to last for ages to come.