The Maya in their great temple cities reached the
summit of classical age in Ancient Meso-
America. In those temple cities, great artistic
expressions such as murals and sculptures
flourished. It is during this classical period in
which artists refined their skills to represent the
human forms, deities, and other symbolic art
works. Used in various rituals and ceremonies,
their art embodied rich symbolism, laden with
complex meanings, which largely remain
esoteric. Polished to radiance, this beautiful
jade ceremonial axe was most likely created
strictly for ritual purposes or as a ritual offering.
The front side of the axe displays an intricately
incised figure wearing an elaborate costume.
Incised in very thin lines, the image shows even
the smallest detail, giving us a complete picture
of a portion of Ancient Mayan history. A
headdress with divine indications surrounds the
profile face of a distinct Mayan characteristic--
heavy lidded eyes, hooked nose, and fleshy lips-
-. The figure's costume is enhanced with
feathers and also ankle cuffs and a pair of
sandals is portrayed in exquisite detail. The
speech scrolls from the mouth and the blood
scroll from the chest further suggest that the
figure is perhaps a high priest or nobility in
process of communicating with the spiritual
world. Intricate and elegant in form and content,
this ceremonial axe is truly special to the modern
viewers as it was to the ancient people.
- (PF.3617)
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