Earspool with Four Incised Glyphs

Exploring the Early Americas The Jay I. Kislak Collection

Pre-Contact America | Explorations and Encounters | Aftermath of the Encounter

Urban Landscapes | Ritual, Ceremonies, and Celebrations | Language and Context | Recording History | The Heavens and Time

Earspool with Four Incised Glyphs (33.4)

Guatemalan Lowlands. Maya, AD 200–400.
Light green jade and red cinnabar.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (33.4)
Photo ©Justin Kerr, Kerr Associates

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This earspool is made of jade with hieroglyphs highlighted with cinnabar. In Maya art, earspools are typically associated with themes of centrality and opposition. This example includes four bird-like deities that have directional symbols on their foreheads.

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