Maya artists produced renderings
of types of animals which were significant to the members of society as
food, pets or pests. It is difficult to determine if animals depicted on
ceramic vessels are parts of purely naturalistic scenes, are related to
stories whose texts have not survived from the Classic period or are supernatural
creatures. Some of these animals probably represent counterparts of humans,
or wayob. Among the present-day Tzotzil Maya of Chiapas it is believed that
every individual has an animal counterpart which must be protected from
harm in order to stay alive. A person’s status in society determines
the kind of way he or she possesses.
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Painted
cylindrical vase
Late Classic Alta Verapaz (Cobán region)
The
glyph repeated below the rim seems to be muluc day sign or a variant
of “jade.” The bat is a frequent motif of pottery
painters from Alta Verapaz. The profiles of bat heads on this
vase may refer to supernatural Camazotz' of the Popul Vuh or may
be the emblem of a social group or ruling family.
HM1184
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