The Carnegie Maya III: Carnegie Institution of Washington Notes on Middle American Archaeology and Ethnology, 1940-1957

96. Tlaloc Effigy Jar from the Guatemala National Museum (1950)

393 N o t e s o f M i d d l e A m e r i c a n A r c h a e o l o g y a n d E t h n o l o g y Carnegie Institution of Washington Division of Historical Research No. 96 July 10, 1950 Tlaloc Effigy Jar from the Guatemala National museum Stephan F. de Borhegyi Teotihuacan religious influence and possibly even political control at that time. The close similarity in shape, technique, and ware to the specimen from a controlled excavation enables us to place the Dieseldorff jar, at least tentatively, on the same time level. Certain interesting differences between the two specimens, however, should be mentioned. (1) Figure 96.1a lacks the tripartite headdress which has broken off from the rim, as shown by the line of fracture. This, as well as the “tri-mountain symbol” seems to be often, if not exclusively, connected with Tlaloc representations (Kidder, Jennings, and Shook 1946, Figs. 102a; 169a, b; 175a; 199l; 200q, r; 207a). (2) The applied scrolls, the beard, and the aquiline nose of Figure 96.1b are considerably longer and of cruder workmanship than those of Figure 96.1a. (3) The earplugs of Figure 96.1b do not have central depressions ; the hand shows no indication of fingers as do the hands of the other. (4) A vertical, solid roll of clay, with outcurving end, connects the rim of the jar with the left shoulder of the Figure 96.1a, effigy. Strangely enough, the right shoulder shows no sign of similar treatment. It seems, therefore, that this extension existed only on the left side. A Tlaloc effigy jar from Teotihuacan (Kidder, Jennings, and Shook 1946, Fig. 169, 2) has a similar but crooked roll of clay connecting the right shoulder with the rim. Unfortunately, the significance of this strange object on the shoulder of each specimen is problematical. It may represent an atlatl, a snake, or a streak of lightning , all frequent attributes of Tlaloc. The outcurving The large Dieseldorff Collection, donated to the Guatemala National Museum in 1942, includes many fine specimens, most of which, unfortunately, are of unknown provenience. The anthropomorphic jar representing a bearded individual, with which this paper is concerned, is believed to have come from Kaminaljuyu, the large archaeological site near Guatemala City. No other information concerning the association and age of the specimen is available. The jar is of coarse, unslipped, reddish brown ware,thesurfaceunpolishedbutfairlywellsmoothed. The paste is a warm brown, showing small particles of white temper. The flaring rimmed, straight necked jar has a spherical body, slightly recurving at the base. The nose, eyebrows, and ears of the individual represented are modeled. The other details are applied (Fig. 96.1a). The heavy eyebrows forming a semicircle around the eyes, the upcurving scrolls on either side of the vertically grooved beard, as well as the prominent aquiline nose, are characteristics generally associated with the Mexican rain god, Tlaloc. This resemblance is interesting in view of the fact that a similar jar from the Early Classic horizon has been reported from Kaminaljuyu (Kidder, Jennings, and Shook 1946, Fig. 200q, r). This specimen (Fig. 96.1b), accompanied by another jar identical but crushed beyond repair, was found in Tomb II of Mound A during the excavations by Carnegie Institution in 1937. Both were recognized as representations of Tlaloc and were assigned to the Esperanza Phase at Kaminaljuyu. It is believed that the site was under 96.1. Tlaloc effigy jars: (a) anthropomorphic jar, with sectional view; Dieseldorff Collection, Guatemala National Museum, no. 5177; height, 18 cm; diameter, 14.5 cm; (b) anthropomorphic jar from Kaminaljuyu, with sectional view (Kidder, Jennings, and Shook 1946: fig. 200r), Guatemala National Museum, no. 2433, total height 19 cm, diameter 15 cm. Tlaloc Effigy Jar from the Guatemala National Museum 395 end of the otherwise straight clay roll of Figure 96.1a would suggest a conventionalized representation of an atlatl. (For the association of Tlaloc with the atlatl see Boggs 1949, Figs. 1, 2, 3; Kidder, Jennings, and Shook 1946:221, Fig. 204a). (5) The little jar under the left arm of Figure 96.1, a is also a well known attribute of Tlaloc. The codices often represent this rain god holding a small jar, sometimes of jade, in his hand, or pouring water from it, a symbol by which his power to produce...