[Aztlan] A Speculation on a Sacrifice at Teotihuacán

[Mary Hopkins]

Actually, many of the Feathered Serpent Pyramid burials were wearing 
necklaces of maxillae.

On Wed, 4 Feb 2009, Justin Kerr wrote:

> On Sacrifice at Teotihuacán
>
> Some years ago when bodies were discovered in an ancient burial, at
> Teotihuacán with lower jaws as necklaces, I was fascinated with the idea
> that when they (the ones doing the killing, whoever they were) had run out
> of real lower jaws, they created reproductions for those victims who did not
> have them. The concept teased me, why lower jaws, what was the significance
> of this particular body part?
>
> And now I enter the area of pure conjecture.  I have been accused for many
> years of applying the philosophies of the Popol Vuh, a Quiche tale, to the
> much broader area of the Maya in general  and as well to many other areas of
> Mesoamerica. Where did this late classic or post-classic story come from?
> Did it spring up fully formed as Athena springing from the body of Zeus, or
> were these legends built into the Mesoamerican system and if so for how
> long?
>
> Over the years, many clues emerged that the legends of the Popol Vuh went
> far back in time and also that  many versions may have existed as well as
> many tales that we have images of,  but no inscriptions to back them up or
> explain them.  I admit to being a joiner; that is, seeing connections where
> none may readily be apparent.  So I throw out to this erudite group the
> possibility that there is reason for not only this particular mass sacrifice
> but the jaw bones themselves.
>
> In preparing for the 2009 Maya Meeting in Austin; soon to be upon us, I
> studied the scene on a well know vase K555. This vase has been published
> many times and seems to make reference to a number of stories from the Popol
> Vuh. (The members of the vase workshop will be asked to toy with this one.)
> One of the prominent scenes on this vase is some little creatures having
> their lower jaws torn from their faces by none other than Chak. Why were
> these little fellows being treated so harshly? Checking with Alan
> Christenson?s translation of the Popol Vuh, we find this passage;
>
> The Lords of the Otherworld are speaking:
>
> Then therefore they summoned the guardians flowers:
> ?What is the reason you gave our flowers to be stolen?
> These our flowers these you see, ?
>
> They said therefore.
> Then also were split open their mouths.
>
> Their punishment
> (what) they guarded was stolen.
>
> {lines starting at 3970} Popol Vuh Volume II, Allen Christenson
>
> Back to Teotihuacán, my speculation is that these sacrificed soldiers with
> the lower jaws hanging around their necks had somehow been negligent in
> their duties or were part of a coup that didn?t pan out and had these
> symbols of betrayal put around their necks, before they were dispatched.
> Yes, I know it is a far cry from the Highland Maya to the plains of
> Teotihuacán, but I wonder if we look very hard in the direction of the Olmec
> if we can find some evidence there as well.  For example, the figures K3015
> and K6145 in Portfolio; just two of a group of chinless beings.
>
> Justin Kerr
>
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