Skillfully carved in silhouette on the backrest of a throne, a bearded lord and his companion observe a small supernatural creature seated between them. The diminutive figure, a messenger from the old celestial god Itzamnaaj, has a human body with winged forearms and the head of a jaguar deity. Symbols in the lord’s headdress suggest that he is impersonating Itzamnaaj while he listens to the words sent by the god himself. This visitation and performance take place in a dark mountain cave, the type of space regarded as a dwelling for the gods. Caves, and their architectural counterparts, temple chambers, were favored settings for Maya religious rituals.
In the town of Santa Cruz Verapaz, Guatemala, young dancers perform a mythical story that explains the origins of social institutions and the rationale for religious rituals dedicated to the gods of the earth and the mountains. Ancient artists depicted scenes from related narratives on ceramic vessels, including some vessels in this exhibition. This video shows the Dance of the Macaws, described through the words of members of the dance group, in the Poqomchi’ Maya language.