Whistle in the form of a two-sided transformation figure,

600–900

This unique ceramic figurine presents a pairing of the human and supernatural, animal aspects of a Maya religious specialist. The human figure’s squat proportions likely indicate that he was is an anacephalic dwarf. Among the Maya, dwarves were considered to have a particularly strong connection to the supernatural, and often served as members of royal courts. His blue feather costume and pot belly are typical features of depictions of religious speicalists or priests. The other side of the figurine presents the animal alter-ego, or ‘way’ (pronounced ‘why’), of the human figure. His body remains humanoid, however, and makes the identical gestue as the human figure on the other side. Although not clearly identifiable, the animal alter-ego’s face may be that of a canine, a coatimundi, o a peccary, all of which were common creatures of the Maya region. The hole on the figure’s shoulder served as a blow whole, as the figurine is a whistle. This whistle may have been played by the person depicted when undergoing transformation into his alter-ego.