[Aztlan] Captives and Hair Pulling

[Justin Kerr]

Dear Allen,
There are at least four specific images in the Maya vase Database that
relate to your question.
K680. Although there is not much body to be seen, the executioner is holding
onto the poor fellow's hair.
K2206. A battle scene from the highlands with 2 captives being held by their
hair.
K2352. Probably another version of the same battle with 3 captives held by
their hair. Note that the hair of the captives is cut short, one of the
humiliation techniques.
K7516. The captive is being held by his hair as executioners prepare to beat
him (probably to death) with stones.
For FAMSI
Justin Kerr 



-----Original Message-----
From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org [mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
On Behalf Of Allen Johnson
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 2:07 PM
To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
Subject: [Aztlan] Captives and Hair Pulling

Whenever there are depictions of prisoners of war in Aztec iconography they
are usually either trussed up (usually at the feel of a dignitary) or being
held by their captor by a tuff of hair at the top of their heads.  With this
hair pulling...  Has anyone come across anything that would suggest that
this is a method in which these captives were actually taken?  There is some
value to hair pulling as a martial technique, but is it really practical?
Or is it a symbolic depiction of humiliating ones opponent?
   
  Many thanks,
  Allen Johnson

 		
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