[Aztlan] Captives and Hair Pulling

[Allen Johnson]

Thank you so much for pointing these out to me!  There is some great info here...
   
  K680- As I see it, that is a depiction of a freshly decapitated head.  Or is that what you were implying and I just didn't pick it up?  however that is a good image as there are 3 more captives trussed up at the feet of a dignitary as I described before.
   
  K2206- Now this one is interesting.  Approaching this from a martial arts standpoint its got some really curious things.  In both cases, the 'captives' are still in possession of their weapons.  The fellow on the left has his spear angled down and pass his opponent. (the 'captor' has his feet and lower body turned away- possible dodge of the initial spear thrust?)  If this is a literal happening he still would be able to mount a counterattack if further action was not taken by the captor.  
     The 'captive' on the right actually seems to be in a better position than his 'captor'!  He has seized the haft of his opponents spear and appears to be in the process of giving a hard downward hack with his axe.  The 'captor's' feet and lower body are actually turned away from his opponent- from my martial arts experience this looks very much like someone preparing to try and dodge an incoming blow when they are restrained from a full traverse.  (He could drop his spear, let go of his opponents hair and run, thus avoiding the axe cut but that would leave the other guy with 2 weapons and the initiative)
   
  K2352- Fantastic image of grappling in the middle!  The 'captor' apparently had his right arm seized by his opponent.  It's probable that the 'captive' then shot in for the leg grab (this technique is VERY common in almost all martial arts ancient and modern.  Asian, medieval and Renaissance Europe, even today's Olympic wrestling and mixed martial arts fights).  At this point, it appears that the 'captor' scooped his opponent under the arm and pull him in and around his back into the lock that appears on the vase.  Leaving his left hand free for the hair grab.  Brilliant image there!
    The parade of captive on the right side of the image show the hair pull and a grip on the right elbow as a means of control.  This makes perfect sense in a martial arts perspective.  A large bulk of grappling techniques are centered on controlling the opponents elbow.  This position they are in is a very difficult one to get out of with a skilled captor.
   
  K7516- I have nothing to add to your comments on this one.  It would seem to be fairly apparent that he's about to get rocked :)
   
  Thanks again!
  I would love to hear any other comments or interpretations others might have on these. 
  -Allen 

Justin Kerr <mayavase at verizon.net> wrote:
  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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