Vessel with a mythological scene (Maya)

Vessel, Mythological Scene, 7-8th century C.E., Maya (Classic Maya), 14 x 11.4 cm, ceramic (1978.412.206) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).
Speakers: Dr. James Doyle, Assistant Curator, Art of the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dr. Steven Zucker.
With special thanks to The Metropolitan Museum of Art

[@sasshole8121]

This art seems way ahead of its time. It reminds me of a punk album cover.

[@chestersakamoto6843]

The Mayans were the Egyptians of the Americas. They had a highly advanced civilization that excelled in astronomy, mathematics, art and literature. The artifacts they left behind never cease to amaze with their detail and skilled craftsmanship.

[@forianproductions6113]

It is sad that most of their knowledge has been lost to us as the Spanish colonists burned their books.

[@davidrave563]

I would say they are Hellenistic Greeks of the Americas; they were able to take influences from different regions and create a great flourishing of art and science, however they inherited a lot of their civilization from the Olmecs and the Teotihuacan civilization.

[@jinkiskhan1967]

The images are so expressive

[@Nockturnmortem]

Hermosisimo, que arte tan exquisito tenían los mayas clásicos.

[@camaramarcelo]

Beautiful piece!

[@HappinessHealthPeace]

Amazing😄

[@Sasha0927]

Calligraphic art is fun! Like thinking you're ~just gonna rest your head~ after church and waking up in the future is fun! 😂💀 I really do like the playful style of the figures on this cup. It's always interesting to see how much variation there is in "cartoony" drawings like this. The witz is proof that even though I'd love to look at this detail by detail, I'd have no clue what's going on. I certainly didn't guess that, lol. Nor the baby jagwire, the firefly with its torch, etc. Mesoamerican art is full of surprises so far!

[@bennyadrianmartinez]

What's always missing to me is where it was discovered and how it got to a museum far far away from where this originated from. There has to be some inference that can be made if not known, but I'm sure its known to the Met.

[@smarthistoryvideos]

We have an entire project devoted to those questions, See ARCHES (At-Risk Cultural Heritage Education Series): smarthistory.org/arches-at-risk-cultural-heritage-education-series/

[@samuelflores8993]

i bet they had some sick manga

[@No0neButMe]

Very sad to think about all the destroyed knowledge and beautiful art.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

5:51 That does look like a torch but I have seen fireflies holding what looks like tobacco cigarrillos in Maya art.

[@the_endgame]

interesting, do you have an example or link?

[@eurekat]

What was the "not real" date?

[@SoulRippster]

Not sure, but the person the cup belonged to was a "divine person of Chatahn", basically a nobleman from Calakmul . Original would be "k’uhul chatan winik".

[@brunolanoue2423]

Born of the Baby jagouard?!! It have long hair ...

[@joemurray6323]

what about all the numbers on the cup

[@hellobejamin9502]

I have something similar but with 3 legs.........