Much like some believe ancient spirits continue
to haunt the earth long after their death, sacred
objects continue to retain their spiritual powers,
accumulated through centuries of reverence,
long after the civilization that created them fades
into oblivion. This object is one such example.
Babilonia polychrome is the distinctive painted,
pictorial style of pottery made in northeastern
Honduras. The people of this region created a
culture that drew from indigenous traditions
(specifically relating to the Lenca people who
inhabit this region) combined with influences
from their powerful Mayan neighbors as well as
others. This vessel merges a Mayan style
composition and painting technique with imagery
representing the religious mythology and
political ideologies of the Lenca. However,
because very few Lenca survived contact with the
Spaniard Conquistadors, little is known of their
ancient beliefs and social structure. Two large
figures, dressed in incredibly elaborate feathered
costumes, adorn the sides of this vessel. They
hold there arms forward, beckoning some higher
power in the skies. The face of these mysterious
birdmen reoccurs as a pseudo-glyph repeated in
the upper band just below the rim. Who are
these mysterious creatures? Most likely, due
both to their dynamic pose and elegant
costumes, these figures represent dancers.
However, they might depict a costumed shaman,
or even mythological gods? Discovered in a
tomb, the plumed figures recall the numerous
examples of vessels ornamented with turkeys
found at the same site. Perhaps this is the
symbolic merger of man and turkey. Although
the meaning of this vessel remains mysterious,
one can still appreciate its spectacular artistry
and the inherent beauty of its painting.
- (PF.6294)
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