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Cylinder vessel

Maya

Not on view

A key episode in modern mythical narratives describes a young suitor who, disguised as a hummingbird, approaches a closely guarded maiden and sets creative acts in motion. Here, a young man has a distinctive hummingbird attribute: a curved beak projects from his nose to pierce a flower. He is probably the mythical suitor of the story, and approaches the maiden—the Moon Goddess—while she sits on a celestial throne behind an old god, likely her protective father.


Vasija cilíndrica
México o Guatemala
Siglo VII al VIII
Cerámica, pigmento

Un episodio esencial en las narrativas míticas modernas describe cómo un joven pretendiente, convertido en colibrí, logró abordar a una muchacha que permanecía muy resguardada. La unión pone en marcha el proceso de creación. Aquí vemos a un joven que lleva frente a su nariz el atributo distintivo de un colibrí: un pico curvo que atraviesa una flor. Tal vez se trata del personaje de esa historia mitológica en el momento que intenta acercarse a la diosa de la luna. Ella está sentada en su trono, detrás de un dios anciano que, probablemente, sea su celoso padre.

Cylinder vessel, Ceramic, pigment, Maya

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© Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, photo by Travis Fullerton