1983.W.2 Royal belt ornament (Maya, Mexico or Guatemala)

On important ceremonial occasions, Maya kings dressed as the World-Tree-of-the-Center, or Wakah-Chan (The Stood-up Sky). To become the tree, they wore ornaments such as this on their loincloths or belts. This regal object depicts a personified mirror, such as occurs on the trunk of the World Tree. The Maya name for this is tzuk, which means "partition," "division," or "dominion." Tzuk symbolizes the ordering of the cosmos when the World Tree was raised by First Father at the beginning of creation. The concept of tzuk relates to the ordering of the physical world into rectilinear patterns of temples, fields, homes, and plazas. Tzuk also meant "province," as in a political division of a kingdom or empire. When the king wore an object that depicted tzuk, he affirmed himself as the source of political power.

Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries.

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619

Maya: AAT: 300017826

Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099

Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560

Guatemala (nation): TGN: 7005493

jadeite (mineral): AAT: 300011121

carving: AAT: 300053149

incising: AAT: 300053847

polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867

drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211

Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983

Maize God (Hun Hunahpu / First Father / Mesoamerican and Maya deity): DMA

worn costume accessories: AAT: 300209274

ornaments: AAT: 300266794

ceremonial costume: AAT: 300210387

ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

ceremonies: AAT:  300054754

loincloths (main garments): AAT: 300209923

belts (bandas / cinturones / costume accessories): AAT: 300210002

belt components (costume): AAT: 300262744

cosmic diagram (cosmos / cosmic geography / cosmic landscape): DMA

tree of life (general motif / axis mundi /cosmic axis / world axis / world tree): AAT: 300312112

trees: AAT: 300132410

anthropomorphic: AAT: 300010335

mirrors: AAT: 300037682

tzuk (Maya hieroglyph / partition / division / segment / province / dominion): DMA

divisions (organizational units): AAT: 300263536

dominions (dependencies): AAT: 300387138

cosmology (cosmological / disciplines): AAT: 300054294

order (concept): AAT: 300247348

creation (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300069002

grids (layout features): AAT: 300200010

patterns (design elements): AAT: 300010108

Temples: AAT: 300007595

fields (land): AAT: 300343519

dwellings (residential structures): AAT: 300005425

homes: DMA

plazas (squares): AAT: 300008214

provinces (political divisions): AAT: 300000774

imperial province: AAT: 300387096

kingdoms: AAT: 300235096

king: AAT: 300025481

rulers (people): AAT: 300025475

symbol: AAT: 300055878

politics: AAT: 300055537

power: AAT: 300374809

green (color): AAT: 300128438

figures: AAT: 300189808

head: AAT: 300262520

faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798

deities: AAT: 300343850

God G (Kinich Ahau / K'inich Ajaw / Sun God / Maya sun deity): DMA

masks (costume): AAT: 300138758

geometric motifs: AAT: 300009764

plant-derived motifs: AAT: 300164599

n.d.: John Huston [1]

Until 1976: Nora and John Wise, New York [1]

1976-1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]

From 1983: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, The Nora and John Wise Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jake L. Hamon, the Eugene McDermott Family, Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Murchison [1], [2]

[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

Apply to objects where number equals 1983.W.2