Vessel tripod of the southern coast of Guatemala

This beautiful vessel tripod is a good example of the kind of art that was practiced in the south coast of Guatemala during the pre-classic (the vase was created close to the year 500 Bc). This area was very prosperous during those years and was the headquarters of large urban centers that are often overlooked in maya history.

The vase is patterned in bas-relief showing a ball player on a band on earth. To your left is born a species of bird snake and its back has a human face, which might be of some ancestor.

The supports of this vessel mimic a backpack, which is a kind of woven carpet used by the sovereign maya as a sign of their power. The maya month ‘Pop’ (between February and March) is named in honor of these rugs and their meaning.