[Aztlan] Question about Stone Chaac Mask in the Northern Acropolis(Tikal)

[Chris Wright]

Hi,

Comparing the images, I think the one originally provided corresponds with
the mask depicted in photos 7909A and 7909B in the portfolio. Still, a
representation of the Principal Bird Deity not Chaak, I suppose.

(NB: there's a slight misspelling in the portfolio page descriptions of
7909A & 7909B -'pricipal' not 'principal'-, so these two don't come up in a
search for "principal bird deity".)

Regards,

Chris Wright.

aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org wrote on 13/06/2007 12:13:17 AM:

> Dear GK,
> I assume you are referring to the mask that is pictured in K4813B in the
> Portfolio. http://research.famsi.org/kerrportfolio.html
> This is not a mask of Chak but the mask of the Principal Bird Deity.
These
> mask decorated many Early Classic temples such as Cerros and Uaxactun,
just
> to name two. This mask with the downward and inward turned beak
identifies
> Itzam Yeh, the alter ego of Itzamna, one of the principal deities in the
> pantheon of Ancient Maya deities.
> One of the most exciting versions of this bird can be found on the
western
> façade of the Rosalia temple in Copan. There he spreads his wings across
18
> meters of wall.
> You can see another version of the bird on a carved vessel K637 in the
Maya
> vase database. http://research.famsi.org./kerrmaya.html. Scroll down in
the
> iconography table and click on Principal Bird Deity and then click the
> search button and you will find a number of examples.
> Justin Kerr
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org
[mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
> On Behalf Of Sollie
> Sent: Monday, June 11, 2007 9:34 PM
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Subject: [Aztlan] Question about Stone Chaac Mask in the Northern
> Acropolis(Tikal)
>
> Hi all
>
> I have a few questions for any Tikal experts out there. This is in
reference
> to the stone mask of Chac -
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:5328_aquaimages.jpg.
>
> 1) Would the stone, Chaac mask in the Northern Acropolis (Tikal) have
been
> visible to the residents of Tikal around 800-900 AD? My reading indicates
> that it was built as part of a facade on an older temple around 50 BC
which
> was then subsequently built upon. So that by the time 800 AD rolled
around,
> the mask itself would have been invisible to Tikal's residents. Correct?
>
> 2) How would the the mask have been built? Was it built with multiple,
> carved stone pieces that were stuck together using some kind of limestone
> based mortar?
>
> 3) Last question. Is there consensus at this time that the mask
represents
> Chaac or some other Maya deity?
>
> Thanks, in advance, for your insights...
>
> GK
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