Selected Works (Click to view larger)
Carving of a frog
The Maya held a special reverence for frogs and toads because they formed an integral part of the cycle of water as it rose from the sea and eventually fell on the land, causing the forest floor to come to life with a chorus of amphibian calls. Amphibians also connected several realms through their various habitats: trees, land, and water. Originally part of a sumptuous burial offering, this shell carving of a smooth and nimble swimming frog, limbs in motion, derives its captivating color and delicate pattern from the shell’s natural markings.
Lobster effigy
Unlike the stylized portrayals of animals in Maya art, this effigy is a realistic depiction of the Caribbean spiny lobster. The skillful artist even alluded to its long antennae in a manner that would not readily break. Still, the deity head emerging from the lobster’s mouth indicates that the creature held some significance that is little understood today. Stingray spines, shark teeth, and stone blades found within the effigy’s plugged cavity link the likely offering of human blood with sacred water connections. This effigy was discovered recently within the ruins of a colonial-period Spanish church, indicating the persistence of traditional Maya worldviews after the arrival of Europeans.
Vessel with a duck lid
For the Maya, ducks exemplified the wind, which was perceived as a vital life force. Topping this vessel is the head of a duck with finlike elements emanating from the sides, possibly depicting fish barbels. Painted on the lid are the duck’s wings, which display serpent characteristics, also associated with breath and wind. Bands of circles and dots around the lid and outer body represent the surface of still water. Collectively, the iconography of this vessel relates to the duck’s aquatic environs.
Sculpture of a pelican
This architectural ornament comes from Comalcalco, an ancient city near the swampy coast of the Gulf of Mexico where pelicans have long thrived. The naturalistic sculpture features an accurately rendered round head, narrow bill, and featherless throat pouch. The ancient Maya would certainly have noticed the pelican, the largest and arguably strangest-looking bird residing near the sea. This imposing sculpture most likely came from the elevated palace at the site, the “Great Acropolis,” and formed part of a watery tableau.
Panel with a king, prince and warriors (Piedras Negras Panel 2)
This panel, dedicated by the Piedras Negras king Itzamk’anahk to memorialize his predecessor, shows a king in full central-Mexican warrior regalia, including shell goggles and a mosaic headdress. The shells hanging from the king’s tunic were precious objects associated with blood in Maya religion. Worn as a sign of authority and military might, they emphasized regal maritime associations, alluding to power drawn from illustrious ancestors.
Creatures of the Fiery Pool
Overview
Creatures and objects from the sea were believed to be imbued with great sacred power and sometimes housed ancestral spirits. Many Maya depictions are realistic and appear familiar, while others are highly stylized portrayals of mythic creatures whose powers and roles are little understood today. Along with the fish, frogs, birds, and legendary beasts that inhabited the sea are a variety of precious shells that signified established religious concepts of the supernatural world. They embodied the sacred life force of ancestors who had returned to the sea at death and rose from it again on the wind. Rulers wore such shells to “capture” the essence of these distant relatives and display hereditary connections through royal regalia.
