Much of the iconography of Mayan art is concerned with death and the underworld. The pantheon of Mayan gods is full of demons and deities who must be appeased with blood. Created in a bold, expressionistic style, this vessel in the form of a tusked demon head was probably buried as a tomb offering filled with food or drink. Though we now live in a world where science and technology have triumphed over mere superstition; the powerful, hypnotic impact of this piece can be felt in the depths of the soul.