PRECOLOMBIAN CERAMICAS    <--BACK

Plate The Writer - 37.5 cms diameter

Classic MAYA, dated between 672 to 830 a. Chr. Ceramic Type Codex-Palmar in cream colour with mineral pigments in brown, red and black. Private Collection, USA

Origin unknown, region of the low-lands of Peten Guatemala and Campeche. (Nakbe-Viewpoint-Calakmul)

On this plate type codex, appears a writer, who holds in his right hand a codex or perhaps a plate of the same type with the codex page, and with the leftr hand he makes brush strokes with a fine paintbrush. He is of a sturdy constitution, with tatoos on arms and legs, wearing a skin skirt and on the head he has a hairdo with decorations, which pretend the large corn leaves. The personage seems to write on a platform, possibly on a raft, as an aquatic surface with waterlilies can be observed below.   

The writers were persons who enjoyed a great social prestige, as they were of the few persons who had the knowledge of the art of writing. Therefore they were a part of the aristocracy and probably they lived and worked in the palasts of the ceremoial centres.              

The codexes were made of tree bark and were put in accordion form with wooden lids. On the rim of the plate we can observe glyphic inscriptions, among them the figure of an “ahau” in the middel of the sign of the heavenly elements.