Cylindrical Vessel with Vision Serpent

Date

600-900

Creator

This vessel depicts a Classic Maya vision serpent. When Maya rulers and elites performed bloodletting ceremonies, they would cut their genitalia or pierce their tongues and collect the blood in paper-filled bowls before burning the paper as an offering to the gods. Vision serpents are often shown rising from a burning blood offering. Here, a human face with closed eyes appears in the mouth of the serpent, probably indicating a deceased ancestor conjured with the vision serpent. Vision serpents were believed to be supernatural conduits able to commune and manifest in the terrestrial realm.