Incised stone uk’ib (drinking cup),

674–778

The artist who carved this travertine uk’ib leveraged its broad, squat proportions to present a generously spaced group of six seated and kneeling men. Those seated are all courtiers, including a war leader, called yajawte’ (head spear); two administrative officials, called aj k’uhuun (he of the papers); and the captain of a large trade canoe, the baah payal (first paddler). These figures frame the two kneeling men who are linked to each other by a rope loosely binding their upper arms, marking them as captives. One of them has been stripped of his headdress and jewelry, an indication of humiliation, while the other retains those emblems of identity. Indeed, the hieroglyphic caption near the figure confirms that he too is an aj k’uhuun, the same role held by some of his captors.