Yucatán and Petén lowlands (Mexico) Island of Jaina (Maya) Whistle in the Form of a Dignitary A.D. 600-900 Ceramic and pigment 7-1/2 inches high, 3-1/4 inches wide, 2 inches deep The John R. Van Derlip Fund 47.2.5

Look

1. Describe the figure you see. What does the figure's pose tell you about him? Does he appear calm and relaxed or tense and ready to move? Does it look like a real person? Why do you say that? Is this figure SYMMETRICAL or ASYMMETRICAL? What effect does this kind of balance create? Stand like this man. How do you feel?
    
2. What are the most NATURALISTIC aspects of this figure? Look closely! What are the least naturalistic aspects?
    
3. What words would you use to describe his face? Does he look brave? Proud? Handsome? Why do you think so? The Maya admired a certain type of profile. What is the shape of this man's head? How do you think it got that way? Where do you see color on this figure? What color do you see? What would be different about this figure's appearance if it were still fully colored?
    
4. What is this figure wearing? Based on his clothing, what do you think the climate was like where he lived? Why do you think that?
    
5. How big do you think this sculpture is? Discuss the sculpture's purpose. Now, with this purpose in mind, how big do you think this is? Show an object of similar size to illustrate the small size of this sculpture.
    
6. This figure was made primarily in a mold. What parts have been added on by hand with clay?
    

Think

1. Why do you think this is called a tomb figure? Why do you think people would want objects buried with them? If you could bring one object into an afterlife or eternity, what would you bring? Why would you choose that? What purpose would it serve?
    
2. Why do you think the artist made this portrait sculpture a whistle? When do you think this object was used as a whistle? How do you think this whistle would sound when blown? Have you been a part of special occasions where music is included? Have you ever blown a whistle? What did the whistle look and sound like?
    
3. Pretend you are an archaeologist who discovered this whistle. What clues does it give you about the Mayan people? Do you think that everyone in this culture was buried with objects? Why or why not? Do you think everyone would be buried with the same objects? Why or why not?
    
4. What other objects in this unit were made for a tomb? In what ways are these objects similar? How are they different?
    
5. What is a dignitary? How do you think ARCHAEOLOGISTS are able to identify this figure as a dignitary? Which of the figure's characteristics do you think help identify him as a dignitary? Which do you think help identify him as a Mayan?
    

Key ideas.
Where does it come from?
What does it look like?
How was it used?
How was it made?
Discussion questions.
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