The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 17, 2024

Vessel with Battle Scene

Vessel with Battle Scene

600–900

Did You Know?

The Maya drank a chocolaty beverage with a spicy kick! Made using cacao seeds and chili peppers, the drink was consumed out of vessels like this one.

Description

Likely used as a political gift, this vessel depicts the presentation of prisoners in the aftermath of battle. A front-facing lord turns to review ten elegantly drawn warriors, some stripped of battle regalia and others dressed in elaborate headgear and garments, including tunics made of jaguar pelts. The hieroglyphs encircling the rim dedicate the vessel, used to drink an elite beverage made of cacao (chocolate) beans.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 53 no. 02, March/April 2013 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 17 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=Vessel with Battle Scene|url=false|author=|year=600–900|access-date=17 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2012.32