About this artwork
This vessel, used to consume a chocolate drink, depicts a key event in a royal Maya accession ceremony, which shows the relationship between human sacrifice and the assumption of power. The expectant king is flanked by servants, musicians, and masked nobles, while a terrified captive—bound to a scaffold—awaits his death. It is probable that the victim was a warrior from a rival community defeated by the prospective king during a coronation war. Such sacrifices were required as proof of a new ruler’s military abilities, provided an offering to his patron gods, and served as a sign of the triumphant reign to follow.
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On View
- Arts of the Americas, Gallery 136
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Artist
- Maya
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Title
- Vessel Depicting a Sacrificial Ceremony for a Royal Accession
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Origin
- Mexico
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Date
- 650 AD–800 AD
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Medium
- Ceramic and pigment
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Dimensions
- H. 19.7 cm (7 3/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund
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Reference Number
- 1969.239
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email .
