PRECOLOMBIAN CERAMICAS    <--BACK

Vessel Princeton   (Of the Hare)
Cylindrical vessel  16.6 x 14.7 cms.

Classic MAYA, dated between 672 and 830 a. Chr. Ceramic Type Palmar in cream colour with mineral pigments in red, brown and black.The Art Museum, Princeton University, New Jersey USA Origin unknown, region of the low-lands of Peten Guatemala and Campeche, Mexico.

(Nakbe-Viewpoint-Calakmul)

An elegantly painted scene of the Mayan Underworld, decorates the surface of this vessel codex-style of the calssicerl period of the Mayan culture. We can observe the figure of the god L, seated on a throne chairing an act in which he gives instructions to one of the five women accompanying him. The attributes of this god, like his old face, its big head and the heavenly bird Muan are represented in his drawing.   

In front of him we can see two masculine persons, identified as the heroic twins, who have dancer costumes carrying out their skills in the death and the resurrection. One of them is the executioner, carrying an axe for executing a prisoner.    

In front of the scene we can observe a rabbit-style figure making the paper for the secretary; he makes notes in a codex with a cover of jaguar skin. Above the god L, we can observe various decoration elements on a piece of furniture conferring divine attributes, like masks with jaguar faces.               

The glyphic inscription around the rim indicates that the vessel was used to drink cacao. One of the women behind the god L seems to carry a vessel from which drops something, which could be chocolate.         

A second text indicates the date 8 Caban 5 Ceh, which can be interpreted as the date on which appears the planet Venus as star of the evening for the first time.