Vessel with Ballgame Scene
Unknown Maya artist, Rio Azul region, Southern Lowlands, Guatemala. Vessel with Ballgame Scene, 600–900 CE. Slip-painted ceramic, 9 x 3 ½ inches. Denver Art Museum Collection: Gift of Dr. M. Larry and Nancy B. Ottis, 2004.949.
Vessel with Ballgame Scene
Maya
About A.D. 600-900
Guatemala, Petén, Rio Azul region
Earthenware with colored slips.
Gift of Dr. M. Larry and Nancy B. Ottis; 2004.949
This narrow vessel, constricted at the neck and painted in polychrome colors over a white slip ground, was likely produced in the region of Rio Azul, though it may have originated around the Naranjo area as well.
It shows two figures engaged in the ballgame. Although similarly attired, it is clear that they differ in status. The figure on the left is a lesser lord, shown kneeling with one arm crossed over his chest in a gesture of subordination. The figure on the right, shown in an active pose with his body crossing the pictorial field, is likely a ruler. Both figures wear large deer headdresses and the thick, heavily padded belts of ballplayers. They also wear kilts with extra-long loincloth flaps that hang to the ground. The ruler wears a kneepad, which would have protected him from injury as he dove for the ball. The large black rubber ball itself is depicted as though it has just been set into motion by the ruler. The entire scene takes place inside a ballcourt. The ballcourt steps are shown behind the two figures as red stripes, while the slanting edge of the court is depicted behind the subsidiary lord.
One of the most interesting features of this scene is that it appears to compress three different temporal moments into a single scene. First, it is unlikely that ballplayers played this physically challenging game dressed in large headdresses and skirts with long loincloth flaps. These elements of the scene, then, are likely depictions of pre-game or post-game rituals, in which players would be dressed in full regalia. Second, despite his cumbersome attire, the ruler is depicted in the midst play. In sharp contrast, his opponent is shown kneeling in a position of subordination, as though ceding victory to the ruler after being defeated. This vessel, then, appears to depict the before, during, and after of this game in a single scene.
There are three categories of hieroglyphic texts on this vessel. One encircles the rim, while two vertical "captions" may name the individuals depicted. Finally, there is a highly eroded passage at the bottom of the scene, between the two figures. All of these, however, are at present illegible, suggesting that these passages may be highly sophisticated pseudoglyphs rather than readable hieroglyphic signs.
For other ballgame scenes, see 1971.417 and 1984.616.
-Lucia R. Henderson, 2016
