Although diminutive in scale, there is a divine presence that haunts this work. It continues to watch over us today as it once watched over a deceased Mayan king buried deep beneath the ground inside of a royal tomb. Standing with her arms held at her sides, she emits an aura much far greater than her stature would suggest. She has been elegantly embellished with a fantastic feathered headdress and a pair of circular ear ornaments, both of which suggest her rank and stature within the Mayan social hierarchy. Her facial structure, especially her broad nose, almond-shaped eyes, and pursed lips are characteristic of the Maya, specifically the provincial style of El Salvador and the southern highlands. Two holes drilled into the side of this work, between the figure’s arms and stomach would have allowed this work to be worn, either as a necklace pendant or, more likely, as a pectoral across the chest. Who does this figurine represent? A deity? A protective spirit? A deceased relative? Any of these suggestions are equally valid possibilities; however, the most revealing factor to the identity and importance of this figurine is the location of its discovery. Found in a tomb, buried alongside a fallen ruler or dignitary, this sculpture was clearly as necessary to have in the afterlife as it was in this world.