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Gourd Art, Maya, Paddler Gods, Tikal
Size/ 20 inches X 7 inches
Composition/ Wood-burned, painted and sealed with a clear coat matte; corded and suitable for wall hanging.
The “Paddler Gods” first identified by Mathews (2001:394) are paired deities seen often ferrying gods in a dugout canoe. the portrait heads of each aged god bear wrinkled jowls, jutting toothless jaws. The “Jaguar Paddler” displays the ear, canine and spots of a jaguar and the “Stingray Paddler” wears a pierced bone (stingray spine) through the septum of his nose (Mathews 2001:394). Variant logographs night (AK’AB) and day (K’IN) substitute for their respective names (Villela 1991) revealing their dualistic nature representing night and day. Their role as paddlers are best known from Tikal Burial 116 bones MT38a and MT38b that show them at the bow and stern of a boat transporting a deceased Maize god through the underworld waters (Stone and Zender 2011:51). Yet, they are also depicted on various ceramics as the boatmen who carry the Maize God to his place of rebirth (Q
Seller's Note/ Rather that repeating the same thing twice, please view the explanation of the scene on the label affixed to the back of the plaque. As this scene was incised on bone (see the final line-drawing photo), Sheri has taken the liberty to add the suitable coloring as found on ancient Maya ceramic vessels.
USA buyers only!