Vessel, poison bottle
Maya culture, Honduras
Terracotta, slip, cinnebar
3" (7.6 cm) high
400-700 A.D.
This small mold-made terracotta bottle features two panels depicting the Smoking God (God L) confronting Kawil (God K). They are separated by a vertical band of glyphs that is highlighted with cinnabar. Both deities are adorned with long bead necklaces and God L is wearing his characteristic wide-brimmed hat topped with a Moan bird. God K is one of the principal gods of Xibalba and is associated with rain, lightning and is often considered to be an adversary of God L. Additional glyph bands adorn both shoulders of the vessel and retain traces of cinnabar.
#7676

$1500