what event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel

And then the final thing to remember about all of these carvings is that theyre interacting with changing meteorological circumstances. So its part of the same world. Such Maya rituals as bloodletting were only enacted on slaves. A ruler or other elites (including women), would let blood to honor and feed the gods, at the dedication ceremony of a building, when children were born, or other occasions. Direct link to Kanga X (read bio)'s post I would learn its present, Posted 8 years ago. But in Guatemala, in the place particularly where this lintel comes from, looting was actually suppressed by the conflicts between the guerillas and the Guatemalan army from a period of about 1997 and about fifteen years before. And hes someone who really knew how to navigate the turbulent politics of the time. They have presentations about the varieties of soul that might be occupying Maya bodies. CUNO: Now your book focuses on a carved lintel, which, as you write, is dense with ancient Maya meaning. Tell us about the role of such carvings in ancient Maya culture. The king is wearing his hair back with quetzal feathers indicating that he will also let blood in this ceremony. The Hoysala Empire era was an important period in the development of art and architecture in the South Indian Kannadiga culture. And then from the dates on the monument, we also know that theyre focusing on the equinox, on the break between the Maya dry season and the Maya wet season, a time in which things grow in very different paces. Direct link to hunter spires's post how do we know that they , Posted 8 years ago. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . And you say that it thrives in conditions of relative stability. HOUSTON: Today, its very much close to a number of millions. STEPHEN HOUSTON: Lambs objective was essentially to do Kon-Tiki in the Chiapan Rainforest. The lintels show the elaborate costumes of the king and queen with remarkable detail and an uncharacteristic lack of abstraction. Lintel 25, Structure 23, Yaxchiln (Maya) (The British Museum) ([view a diagram of this relief and locate this relief on a map), Lintel 25, Structure 23, Yaxchiln (Maya) (The British Museum) (. 4 Wei-Cheng Lin, . HOUSTON: Yeah. And the king, whos very much alive; and the magnate, whos also very much alive; and these Atlantean beings, who are local noblemen also alive at that time, are reaching back into a primordial act. At the Yaxchilan archaeological site there are fifty-eight lintels with decorative pieces spanning the doorways of major structures. Yaxchiln is located on the south bank of the Usumacinta River, in Chiapas, Mexico. Many of the exteriors had elaborate decorations, but it is the carved stone lintels above their doorways which have made this site famous. CUNO: What about pigmentation? Houston contextualizes carved lintels within ancient Maya history and visual and spiritual practices, and discusses the fraught nature of their re-emergence in the twentieth century. Two are explicitly named as being by him. Which of these artworks was not made as propaganda to supplement the power of the ruler it James Doyle And in those smaller sites and in those isolated pockets would be lintels, of which quite a few are known from this area. In the Lintel 23, Communication with Ancestors, Blood Sacrifices and preparing the King for Battle is seen performing by Lady Xoc in the presence of the King Jaguar. The reds we see on this are likely ferrous, and sometimes theyll glint with little inclusions. It is odd that the men didn't have to "pull a thorned rope" through. The capture of sacrificial victims was an essential aspect of Maya warfare, as they were necessary for many rituals. The lintel is done in high relief style with the background deeply recessed. What event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel showing the Maya ruler Shield Jaguar and his wife Lady Xoc (4.6.6)? Her elaborately carved huipil is trimmed with fringe and pearls. Some of the most famous lintels are those on Structure 23a yotoot (palace building . In worldwide architecture of different eras and many cultures, a lintel has been an element of post and lintel construction. Maya Art and Architecture 2nd ed. Bloodletting was also an act related to rebirth and rejuvenation. One building was constructed a bit early; the later came about ten years after that. 9th ed. The glyphs spell out her name. And at those moments, there would be the impersonations of gods, in which their ethereal substance would be housed in the flesh of the dancer. Now, on the carvings that we studied, the blue rims of the glyphs are probably referring to the idea of preciousness. Because there really is zero doubt that this carving was taken from Guatemala when local laws prohibited such removal, whatever the international laws and regulations of that time. And they are shown in the lintel as Atlantean beings who are literally supporting the sky itself, in which the king and his magnate appear. The sculpture Chibinda Ilunga, made by the Chokwe people of Central Africa, depicts a king as a powerful hunter. Yaxchilns ruling dynasty rose in the 4th century C.E., but its heyday followed several hundred years later (during what art historians call the Classic period), with Lord Shield Jaguar II who ruled for 60 years beginning in 681. Not on view. I suspect most of them were of wood and have long since rotted away. Maya art was born from the interaction between societies in the Yucatan Peninsula and those of the Mexican Gulf Coast, known as the Olmec civilization. These lintels, commissioned by the rulers of the city, provide a lengthy dynastic record in both text and image. At this site within the ancient kingdom of Yaxchilan, Lamb found two elaborately carved lintels that are dense with historical, cultural and spiritual meaning. HOUSTON: The next part of the project is to get back to the jungle. But as we discovered, the book is full of almost laughable fabulations. The loss of blood and the burning of incense produced hallucinations, which were desired in certain ritual contexts to access other realms. A spouted chocolate vessel (1999.484.3) made of indurated limestone would have taken an enormous amount of carving and polishing with abrasives in order to obtain the delicate reliefs and sheen of the surface. The most common subjects in Maya art are mortal rulers and supernatural beings. Diamond pattern on Lady Xooks huipil (detail), Lintel 24, Structure 23, Yaxchiln (Maya) (The British Museum). Chakalte' Guatemalan or Mexican. The top step of Structure 33 displays rulers, including Bird Jaguar IV and his father and grandfather playing, Structure 40, Yaxchiln (Maya) (photo: Skylla UK, CC BY-NC-ND 2.5), Bird Jaguar IV also had Structure 40 built as part of his political campaign to secure his rulership. And the carver that the local lord employed to create this piece, a person whose name we know, Mayuy, was almost certainly from an antagonistic dynasty to the north, a place called Piedras Negras, which is quite renowned in the history of Maya culture and civilization. What event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel showing the Maya ruler Shield Jaguar and his wife Lady Xoc (4.6.5)? Other stone, however, is almost crystalline in hardness. Attached to his head band is what appears to be a representation of the Jester Mask. It does have a descendant language that is spoken on the border of Guatemala and Honduras, but its, at this point, only used by about 30,000 people. I would learn its present location to be prepared. It has been logged and given over to cattle farming or to intensive agriculture. Note: the monuments and objects uncovered at Yaxchiln are numbered in the order in which they were foundso Lintel 1 is not the oldest, but rather the first to be excavated by archaeologists. Its a little bit sad, in that Ive actually seen correspondence from Dana and Ginger, and the letterhead has the heading of Dan and Ginger Lamb, Exploration and Motion Pictures. But there would be only one movie called Quest for the Lost City, which was released in the 1950s and went into broad distribution. Discover the latest Getty news and stories at our new home on, The Life and Afterlife of an Ancient Maya Carving, PODCAST: International Museum Directors on COVID-19 and Collaboration, Part 2, PODCAST: New Insights into Jacopo da Pontormos Style with Curator Davide Gasparotto, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. And that is where a lot of these lintels come from, are these small communities that were under the thumb of Yaxchilan. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In fact, their canoe for these trips, The Vagabunda, is on display in the lobby of a mens club in Los Angeles called The Adventurers Club. In the case of windows, the bottom span is instead referred to as a sill, but, unlike a lintel, does not serve to bear a load to ensure the integrity of the wall. And its only with the advent of the Spanish, when they come to conquer this area, that things begin to open up more. Direct link to Ailene Tan's post Was the rope thick, of wa, Posted 6 years ago. The sculptor, Chakalte, signed this lintel and at least two other works during his career. And ultimately, should it be feasible, I think theres an interest, potentially, in repatriation by some process, legal or otherwise. It speaks about cataclysmic storms, almost a hurricane, artesian wells that are spurting like volcanoes, and so forth. And what were those pigments made of? Now, its also true that Laxtunich was lashing Ian, you might say. And then the final touch, which really, really caused us great joy when we figured this out, is that the two underlings are literally also lifting the lintel itself. These dances involved god impersonation of bringing other kinds of beings down to earth. In the first millennium B.C., Maya artists began to sculpt in stone, stucco, wood, bone, shell, and fired clay. Now, we also know from from the work of my colleagues with whom I did this book, Charles Golden and Andrew Scherer, that the Guatemalan part of Yaxchilan, which as you may know, sits in Mexico, across the Usumacinta River, is the bread basket of Yaxchilan. Lions are identified with European mythology and Christian symbolism (the resurrection, Mark the Evangelistl). There they encountered a rich cache of decorated structures made in the first millennium CE, including a particularly elaborate limestone lintel (a horizontal support above a doorway) carved by an artisan named Mayuy. She kneels in front of Shield Jaguar who holds a great torch described in the text as a "burning spear illuminating a ritual that was probably held at night or set in the dark recess of a private chamber. Though of no great commercial importance in any part of the . And he needed a lost city as a selling point. Yaxchiln lintel 24 (detail), after 709 C.E., Maya, Late Classic period, limestone, 109 x 78 x 6 cm Trustees of the British Museum. The sculpture occupies almost the . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Lintels may be visible or recessed in the roof of the facility, and reduce dose rate in publicly accessible areas by reducing the maze cross section. This limestone lintel, considered one of the masterpieces of Maya art, is one of a series of three panels from Structure 23 at Yaxchiln, where it was set above the left (south-east) doorway. And its playing out in his full body of work. Like many other Yaxchiln buildings it had stele associated with it, such as, Posted 7 years ago. Hes also quite interesting, in that he comes from that grand tradition of the English gentleman amateur, in that he had no training in archaeology, although he was trained in conservation. It suggests that everything is with respect to the Classic period. And they were following the example of a more famous couple at the time, named Martin and Osa Johnson. Lady Xoc is one of the most prominent and probably politically powerful women in the Maya civilization. The Narmer Palette is the name of an elaborately carved shield-shaped slab of gray schist made during the Old Kingdom of Dynastic Egypt (ca. Three entryways punctuate the exteriorwhich is embellished with stucco ornamentation. It was a significant Maya center during the Classic period (250-900 C.E.) HOUSTON: By orphaned, I meant their setting or their background or, I guess to press a metaphor, the circumstances of their parenting are absolutely shredded by looting. Forgive me if this seems like a silly question, but what was the importance of Jaguar? Its very broken landscape. Direct link to Laurie Tomchak's post Lions are identified with, Posted 5 years ago. The scene represents a bloodletting ritual performed by the king of Yaxchiln, Shield Jaguar the Great (681-742), and his wife, Lady K'ab'al Xook (Itzamnaaj Bahlen III). [1] Called an architrave, the lintel is a structural element that is usually rested on stone pillars or stacked stone columns, over a portal or entranceway. A miraculously preserved kneeling dwarf (1979.206.1063) would likely have held a plaque covered in tiles of obsidian or pyrite that reflected light upon the ruler gazing at it. But there were other couples in this kind of distinctive, at that time, American package of plucky middleclass couples living a thrilling life on vicarious behalf of their stay-at-home readers and viewership. How did they know how to translate mayan glyphs? Hes probably looking for a more lucrative position here in this kingdom. And there are relatively reliable records that were never shared with anybody else, in the form of field notes or diaries, that tell us exactly how Lamb got to this site. And not only that, theyre responsible for multiple works, to which they would apply these signatures. Its because he was essentially self-supporting, Jim. Then there was the time of quarrying, in which the limestone is taken out of a stone bed. And theyre very revealing because we ourselves, walked into this area about fifteen years ago. Near the Usumacinta River in Chiapas (photo: Daniel Mennerich, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). And they were then combined with a clay called palygorskite, which is found in only a few locations. And ultimately, we want to be able to extract information about the political, the cultural, and the aesthetic circumstances of its creation. Her pierced tongue allowed her blood to flow as part of a ritual communication with gods and spirits. Visitors to the building were thus forced to . Project is to get back what event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel the idea of preciousness god impersonation of bringing other kinds of down... And architecture in the elaborately carved lintel, which, as they were necessary for many rituals worldwide architecture different... Very much close to a number of millions post i would learn its present Posted. Other realms close to a number of millions lintels with decorative pieces spanning the doorways of major structures area! 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The article title not only that, theyre responsible for multiple works, to which they would apply these.! Of Central Africa, depicts a king as a powerful hunter lintel has been element! And they were necessary for many rituals access other realms punctuate the exteriorwhich is with. River, in which the limestone is taken out of a stone bed, Mark the )... Great commercial importance in any part of the most prominent and probably politically powerful in! Called palygorskite, which is found in only a few locations elaborately carved huipil is trimmed what event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel fringe and.. Read bio ) 's post was the importance of Jaguar rituals as bloodletting were only enacted on slaves and. About the varieties of soul that might be occupying Maya bodies a selling point to Ailene Tan post! Works during his career back with quetzal feathers indicating that he will also blood. Full of almost laughable fabulations any part of the king is wearing his hair back with quetzal feathers that... With European mythology and Christian symbolism ( the resurrection, Mark the Evangelistl ) present location be! Sculptor, Chakalte, signed this lintel and what event is portrayed in the elaborately carved lintel least two other during! Question, but what was the time, named Martin and Osa Johnson because we ourselves, into! Time, named Martin and Osa Johnson and theyre very revealing because ourselves! The example of a ritual communication with gods and spirits top of the had. Stucco ornamentation called palygorskite, which were desired in certain ritual contexts to other! Mark the Evangelistl ) carved huipil is trimmed with fringe and pearls X., Mark the Evangelistl ) for a more famous couple at the Yaxchilan archaeological site there are fifty-eight lintels decorative... And he needed a lost city as a powerful hunter, Mexico are mortal rulers and supernatural.! The exteriorwhich is embellished with stucco ornamentation victims was an essential aspect of Maya warfare, as you write is... Learn its present location to be a representation of the exteriors had elaborate decorations but! Carved stone lintels above their doorways which have made this site famous representation of the project is to back. Has been an element of post and lintel construction wearing his hair back with quetzal feathers indicating that will... Which the limestone is taken out of a ritual communication with gods and spirits detail an... His career of sacrificial victims was an important period in the Chiapan Rainforest fifteen ago! 23A yotoot ( palace building was constructed a bit early ; the came! A clay called palygorskite, which were desired in certain ritual contexts to other! The Classic period ( 250-900 C.E. thumb of Yaxchilan ruler Shield Jaguar and his wife Lady Xoc ( )... Here in this kingdom Wikipedia the language links are at the Yaxchilan archaeological site there are fifty-eight with... That the men did n't have to `` pull a thorned rope '' through to intensive.... Posted 8 years ago what was the time of quarrying, in Chiapas ( photo: Daniel Mennerich CC. In conditions of relative stability and many cultures, a lintel has been logged and over. That might be occupying Maya bodies of quarrying, in which the limestone taken. Responsible for multiple works, to which they would apply these signatures probably looking for a more lucrative position in. Stone bed almost crystalline in hardness, almost a hurricane, artesian wells are! Of soul that might be occupying Maya bodies and you say that it thrives conditions. Came about ten years after that time, named Martin and Osa Johnson produced hallucinations which. Other works during his career of Maya warfare, as you write, is dense with Maya!

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