Cylinder vase depicting scribes in the Underworld

Depicted around this cylinder vase is a scene of the Maya Underworld, or "black hole," known as xibalba. Ten toothless scribes wearing beaded necklaces appear seated in procession, on their way toward a seated god who wears an elaborate headdress and holds out a feather brush, perhaps in a gesture of blessing. Just behind them, however, with its jaws wide open, is a serpentlike dragon with antlers and a swirling beard, ready to swallow. Along the top of the vessel, just below the band of orange-red paint around the rim, are a series of black outlined Maya glyphs, part of a complex calligraphic writing system that is based on phonetic signs. These glyphs might refer to the owner or patron of the vessel, the contents it was intended to hold, the scene painted on the surface or even the artist. The cylindrical shape of this vessel indicates its function as a drinking cup, specifically for the consumption of a frothy, bitter beverage made from cacao.

For the Maya, death called the soul to Xibalba, literally meaning the “place of fright,” where one faced trials and competitions with the Lords of Death. In the sacred Maya book Popol Vuh, the Hero Twins deceive and defeat them and escape Xibalba, offering hope for others. The scene depicted here might be a competition between a seated lord and several scribes. The dragon with its jaws wide open signals the potential for an unfortunate outcome.