The ancient knife glows with an emotional power undimmed by the passage of time. Its spare, elegant lines rivet the gaze; its glittering edges irresistibly draw the hand, even as its mysterious past grips the imagination. Obsidian—volcanic glass—was prized in ancient America for use in knives and weapons. The Maya especially favored obsidian for battle swords and sacrificial daggers, which this blade almost certainly is. Who has held it? What bloody rituals has it been witness to? We recognize that such a weapon only has power when moved by the hand of man, yet we are hypnotized by its forceful presence, as if it had a mind of its own.