On view
Chak Chel (Great Rainbow),
600–900
Ceramic figurines associated with the islands of Jaina and Uaymil, off the west coast of Campeche, Mexico, provide an exceptionally rich record of noble Maya costume and adornment, including variations related to gender and courtly position. Looters disinterred hundreds of such figurines, all presumably associated with burials. The works vary dramatically in terms of detail and mode of manufacture, with some meticulously shaped by hand, others pressed from clay molds, and yet others fabricated through a combination of molded and modeled components. Many of the figurines produce sound, as rattles filled with clay pellets or as whistles, some producing multiple tones. The sound likely served to enliven and spiritually animate the subjects of these works. Although archaeological data is limited, individuals were buried with one or a few figurines, but they do not generally accord with the status or gender of the interred.
Like many Mesoamerican supernaturals, the elderly goddess Chak Chel had multiple aspects, including a ferocious one. Even her name, which means “great rainbow,” refers to a menacing omen in Maya thought. As depicted here, the goddess wears the standard garb and twisted hair cords of a midwife. Her appearance suggests a nurturing aspect, yet her face is either masked or painted blue with oversize features and a two-toothed grimace. Moreover, the shield and jaguar ears on her head are associated with warriors. In her right hand she wields a removable club-like element, which may represent both a weapon and a weaving baton, as weaving was another activity associated with Chak Chel. The combination of midwifery and warrior adornments relates to various Mesoamerican cultures, which likened childbirth to combat because both could prove deadly.
More Context
Special Exhibition
Ancient Mesoamericans attributed illness to supernatural beings. Yet these same entities were simultaneously sources of health and curing. Differing depictions of such characters highlight either their malevolent or benevolent aspects. This elderly Maya female is Chak Chel, whose name means Great Rainbow. Among the Maya, rainbows were envisioned as the flatulence of demons and the source of seizures. This figurine likely once wielded an ax and features feline qualities, such as the large, triangular ears in her headdress, suggesting that she is a cause of illness with the ferocity of a jaguar. Another work appearing later in this exhibition highlights Chak Chel’s positive attributes as a midwife.
More About This Object
Information
600–900
North America, Mexico, Campeche, Maya area, Jaina Island or vicinity
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3000 Years of Pre-Columbian Art (December 3, 1964 - January 3, 1965)
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Jaina Figurines: A Study of Maya Iconography (Saturday, May 03, 1975 - Sunday, June 29, 1975)
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Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya (April 4, 2004–January 2, 2005)
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States of Health: Visualizing Illness and Healing (November 2, 2019 –Sunday, February 2, 2020)
