The Maya considered their kings to be of sacred
origin. He was the earthly embodiment of the
divine essence, around which the cosmos circled
according to his will and command. In order to
maintain and strengthen this belief, elaborate
rituals were devised as a form of propaganda to
convince the people their ruler was superhuman.
Amazingly extravagant costumes were made to
give this impression, and the Maya were masters
at creating awe-inspiring ceremonies. Paintings
on murals and ceramics reveal the very elaborate
costumes the king and his nobles wore, with
their brilliant feathers and glittering ritual
objects. One of the most important and beautiful
of these was the celt. Just as the king was
considered to be invested with supernatural
power, so too were the objects he wore. The celt
was not only a symbol of wealth and prestige; it
was seen as a conduit or instrument in which
sacred power had accrued. The very lovely jade
of this gorgeous celt emits a special radiance of
warmth and light. It would have been worn
hanging from the royal belt in a single or double
row during ceremonies such as accession or
bloodletting rites. It shows the king himself
looking upwards to heaven, dressed in a
fabulous costume like a wonderfully abstract
design, which gives his body a sense of swirling.
Carved with expert precision, then dusted with
cinnabar for the brilliant red, the figure comes
alive as if he is passing by in a great procession.
And we, as viewers, are privileged to see him
through the window of art. When holding this
celt, caressing its smooth surface, feeling its
seductive strength, it seems perfectly natural the
ancient Maya should believe it contained magical
powers.
- (PF.4610)
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