#peten

~ Jaguar-lidded bowl.

Period: Early Classic

Date: A.D. 300-600

Culture: Maya

Place of origin: Tikal, Peten, Guatemala

Maya seated figure with removable helmet, Mayan Culture, 

Petén Guatemala, 600-900 AD.C. 

Brownware ceramic with traces of red, blue and yellow pigments,

H. 4 7/8 in (H. 12,4 cm) with the helmet 

This ceramic statuette of a man sitting in a posture worthy of that of an Indian yogi, however, seems to represent a wrestler at rest, as the removable helmet that can be worn over his head seems to indicate.

Representations known for almost fifty years on a polychrome pottery belonging to the Tepeu ceramic sphere characteristic of recent classical times  show that these helmeted wrestlers were like a kind of "gladiators" boxing with stone balls and sharp objects. 

These pugilists were clearly not a Mayan specificity in Mesoamerica, since there are also known representations of them among the Zapotecs in the current Mexican state of Oaxaca.

According to a technique more widely used at the same time among the Totonaques of the current Mexican state of Veracruz, the blackness of the character's hair was rendered by applying chapopote (or Mexican asphalt). 

His loincloth and ankle bracelets with bells are similarly accented with black asphalt.

Vessel with Ballgame Scene

Maya

About A.D. 600-900

Guatemala, Petén, Rio Azul region

Provenience unknown, possibly looted

This narrow vessel, constricted at the neck and painted in polychrome colors over a white slip ground, was likely produced in the region of Rio Azul, though it may have originated around the Naranjo area as well.

It shows two figures engaged in the ballgame. Although similarly attired, it is clear that they differ in status. The figure on the left is a lesser lord, shown kneeling with one arm crossed over his chest in a gesture of subordination. The figure on the right, shown in an active pose with his body crossing the pictorial field, is likely a ruler. Both figures wear large deer headdresses and the thick, heavily padded belts of ballplayers. They also wear kilts with extra-long loincloth flaps that hang to the ground. The ruler wears a kneepad, which would have protected him from injury as he dove for the ball. The large black rubber ball itself is depicted as though it has just been set into motion by the ruler. The entire scene takes place inside a ballcourt. The ballcourt steps are shown behind the two figures as red stripes, while the slanting edge of the court is depicted behind the subsidiary lord.

One of the most interesting features of this scene is that it appears to compress three different temporal moments into a single scene. First, it is unlikely that ballplayers played this physically challenging game dressed in large headdresses and skirts with long loincloth flaps. These elements of the scene, then, are likely depictions of pre-game or post-game rituals, in which players would be dressed in full regalia. Second, despite his cumbersome attire, the ruler is depicted in the midst play. In sharp contrast, his opponent is shown kneeling in a position of subordination, as though ceding victory to the ruler after being defeated. This vessel, then, appears to depict the before, during, and after of this game in a single scene.

There are three categories of hieroglyphic texts on this vessel. One encircles the rim, while two vertical "captions" may name the individuals depicted. Finally, there is a highly eroded passage at the bottom of the scene, between the two figures. All of these, however, are at present illegible, suggesting that these passages may be highly sophisticated pseudoglyphs rather than readable hieroglyphic signs.

For other ballgame scenes, see 1971.417 and 1984.616.