| Iconographers (symbolism experts)
have interpreted many images on ceramics as being scenes related to the
Postclassic Popol Vuh, or “Council Book,” of the highland Quiché
Maya. Although separated from Classic Maya scribes by 500 years, the story
line of the Popol Vuh corresponds well to the images on ceramics. Many of
the ceramics most convincingly associated with the story were produced near
the southern highland site of Chamá, in the Chixoy drainage, during
the late 7th to early 8th centuries. Black-and-white chevron designs at
the rim and base characterize polychrome Chamá ceramics. Texts on
Chamá ceramics tend to be short and to contain false glyphs called
“pseudoglyphs”. This may mean that they were produced by only
partially literate artisans or for more than just the elite segment of society.
Chamá was located near the traditional entrance to the Underworld.
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Painted
incised cylindrical vase
Classic highland Guatemala
The
Hero Twins turned their malevolent half-brothers into monkeys. The
two Monkey-man Gods, Hun Batz and Hun Chouen, face each other on
this vase. Prototypical scribes, they wear headgear with traits
of both the scribe’s “Spangled Turban” and Pawahtún’s
net headdress. One holds a pen and shell inkpot in his hands. The
white scalloped shapes separating the figures appear to be stylized
conch-shell inkpots. A restorer used pieces from another vessel
in reconstructing this vase.
HM1196
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