Discussion of The Waterbird Theme in Maya Art
The Waterbird with fish in beak is a common theme on many polychrome and carved vases. A subset is the theme of this same waterbird with diety head imbedded in its chest. A stone example of this theme has been excavated by Bill Fash at Copan. Based on that object as well as some other clues, we believe that the diety is a version of G1 of the Palenque triad. He may represent the Hero Twin Hunaphú and the theme may be related to the events related in the Popol Vuh where the twins are catfish in the river. A burial urn with this theme is shown below as well as the shape of the vessel. Other vases that relate to this theme are K6167, K6181, K6438, K8538, K8651.
				The Burial Urn pictured below presents the image of the diety G! recognizable by the fish barbels on his cheeks. His headdres is composed, in part, by the bird with fish.
	Any comments or disscusion are welcome. Please send them to Justin Kerr
			Use Your Back Button to return to the Database