2008.83 Carved bone fragment (Maya, Mexico)

This carved bone fragment is incised with an image of a serpent. Though the figure is only partially visible, it likely represents the vision serpent, with its scaly skin indicated by cross-hatched circles. A figure of central importance in Maya mythology and ritual, the vision serpent is commonly depicted with the spirit of an ancestor or deity emerging from its jaws. During bloodletting rituals, participants would induce visions to communicate with the supernatural realm, namely ancestors or gods. In Maya art, these visions are often depicted through the vision serpent, a conduit between the earthly world and the otherworld. The vision serpent is also connected to the axis mundi, the World Tree that links the celestial, terrestrial, and underworld realms. Through rituals such as bloodletting, the king could connect to the spiritual world and harness its power. Though the function of this bone fragment is unknown, sharpened bones were often used as bloodletting implements to pierce the body and collect blood, which would further connect imagery to function.

Mary Ellen Miller and Megan E. O'Neil, Maya art and architecture, 2nd edition (London: Thames & Hudson, 2014): 30, 152-154, 245.

Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619

Maya: AAT: 300017826

Lowland Maya: AAT: 300017099

Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560

bone (material): AAT: 300011798

carving: AAT: 300053149

incising: AAT: 300053847

polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867

Classic (mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016983

Late Classic Period: AAT: 300016986

sculpture: AAT: 300047090

fragments (object portions): AAT: 300117130

b'ak (bone / Maya hieroglyph): DMA

profiles (figures): AAT: 300123319

animals: DMA

serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870

vision serpent (Maya mythical figure / deity): DMA

visions (life events): AAT: 300251603

deities: AAT: 300343850

ancestors: AAT: 300255718

blood: AAT: 300011797

bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA

autosacrifice (self-sacrifice / bloodletting): DMA

rituals (events): AAT: 300065284

ceremonies: AAT: 300054754

rulers (people): AAT: 300025475

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

spirit: AAT: 300379007

celestial (concepts): AAT: 300404122

terrestrial (concepts): AAT: 300404121

supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947

underworld (doctrinal concept): AAT: 300343823

piercing tools (equipment): AAT: 300024788

cutting tools (equipment): AAT: 300024662

ceremonial objects: AAT: 300234117

ritual objects: AAT: 300312158

Until d. 2007: Jerry L. Abramson (d. 2007), Dallas [1], [2], [3]

From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, given in memory of Jerry L. Abramson by his estate [1], [2], [3]

[1] The main source for this provenance is letter from Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, to Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated December 22, 2008, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[2] The main source for this provenance is receipt and release form signed by Bonnie Pitman, Director of the Dallas Museum of Art, and Thomas E. Rosen, Executor, estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

[3] The main source for this provenance is Deed of Gift from estate of Jerry L. Abramson (dated January 30, 2009, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.

253364616: UMO. [Caption] Drawing of the vision serpent from Lintel 15, Structure 23, Yaxchilan. Source: El Comandante (own work), Wikimedia Commons, accessed: August 28, 2015, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/YaxchilanDivineSerpent.jpg.