Jaguar Portaestandarte

A jaguar standard-bearer in a seated position with the neck high and the head turned to the left side; it has open jaws in a menacing attitude. The fur was engraved with the idea of emphasizing the characteristic spots of the mythological feline that was feared for its strength, ferocity and admired for its dexterity as night predator. In the rear part, the tail was marked with a fine incision and on the back stands out a prominent with a cylindrical hole from where the standard must have been placed. During the early postclassic period, Chichen Itzá shares several symbolic-religious elements that are characteristic of this period and confirm the existence of a general worship related to the groups in the power, most of the time identified as “non Mayans”. Among these elements, particularly those shared with Tula, there are zoomorphic standard-bearers, atlantes and sculptures of the Chac Mool type. The sculpture of this feline was found in the sacred cenote, most likely thrown there as an offering.Dra. Federica Sodi MirandaColaboradores: Arqlgo. Hugo Herrera Torres Araceli Ruiz Peláez Mtro. Hugo García Capistran.