| 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
incised bowl
Late Classic Quiché
In
creation mythology, the gods became angry with the results of
their attempt to create humans from wood. The people refused to
obey and behaved badly, so the gods turned them into monkeys,
doomed to chatter and swing in the trees. The vase is decorated
with five incised monkeys, each holding a bird and leaf.
HM1200
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