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The Quadripartite Badge: Narratives of Power and Resurrection in Maya Iconography

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University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2012 The Quadripartite Badge: Narratives Of Power And Resurrection In Maya Iconography Victoria Ingalls University of Central Florida Part of the Anthropology Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Masters Thesis (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Ingalls, Victoria, "The Quadripartite Badge: Narratives Of Power And Resurrection In Maya Iconography" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 2393. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/2393 THE QUADRIPARTITE BADGE: NARRATIVES OF POWER AND RESURRECTION IN MAYA ICONOGRAPHY by VICTORIA ANN INGALLS B.S. Texas State University, 2009 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Anthropology in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Fall Term 2012 © 2012 Victoria A. Ingalls ii ABSTRACT Ancient Maya iconography primarily depicted elite individuals in idealized states of being and rationalized their power and authority through ideological concepts and otherworld beings. This study aims to reexamine previous assumptions made concerning the Quadripartite Badge. This motif is examined based on iconographic associations and contexts, as well as temporal and spatial distributions. The dataset was created from currently identified examples of the Quadripartite Badge, although only a select group is extensively examined. The spread of this motif is demonstrated through time and its spatial dispersals are noted for their political consequences. Indicating the liminal status of its user, the Badge is frequently placed in scenes of transformation, accompanying rites of passage. It is also established that as elite women became more prominent, women from Tikal and Calakmul circulated this iconography through marriage alliances, as seen in the number of newly ‘arrived’ women carrying the Badge. Other iconographic associations of the Badge revealed strong ties with the Maize God and the cyclical nature of agriculture. For the continuation of the maize cycle and renewal of universal forces, sacrifice was required; the completion of ritual sacrifice was demonstrated through the depiction of the Quadripartite Badge. This one expression of power simultaneously validated earthly and otherworldy authority, ensuring the continuation of the cosmos and the perpetuation of the sun and maize cycles. iii To Mike: for accompanying me on this adventure. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many people to whom I owe thanks for their support on this project. First, I would like to thank my committee chair Dr. Arlen Chase, and committee members Dr. Diane Chase and Dr. Sarah Barber for their guidance throughout this process. I would also like to thank Dr. Lana Williams, for her early critiques and advice which made me a better writer and set me on this research path. To my fellow graduate students, especially Phil Wolf, Carrie Healey, Brittany Walter, and Shella Mercado, thanks for keeping life interesting. I would particularly like to thank Tiffany Lindley, whose company kept me sane, whose feedback kept me focused, and without whose support I may not have made it. Thanks to my family for their continual encouragement. And finally, I need to thank Michael Beavers, whose daily support has been a constant source of relief and without whom this journey would have been a very lonely one; you help me much more than you know. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ............................................................ 1 Problem Statement ................................................................................................................. 3 Ideologies, Art, and Iconography ........................................................................................... 5 Worldview.............................................................................................................................. 7 The Cosmic Monster and the Quadripartite Badge .............................................................. 10 CHAPTER TWO: DESCRIPTION OF THE CORPUS ............................................................... 14 Tikal ..................................................................................................................................... 14 El Zapote .............................................................................................................................. 16 Naachtun .............................................................................................................................. 17 Caracol ................................................................................................................................. 18 Piedras Negras ..................................................................................................................... 18 Palenque ............................................................................................................................... 20 Copan ................................................................................................................................... 24 Yaxchilan ............................................................................................................................. 27 El Peru .................................................................................................................................. 29 Dos Pilas .............................................................................................................................. 30 Site Q ................................................................................................................................... 30 Xultun .................................................................................................................................. 31 Quirigua ............................................................................................................................... 31 Seibal.................................................................................................................................... 32 Portable Objects ................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 37 Iconographic Associations and Contexts ............................................................................. 37 Temporal and Spatial Distribution ....................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 48 Rites of Passage and Liminality ........................................................................................... 48 Gender Roles and Politics .................................................................................................... 49 Otherworldly Roles .............................................................................................................. 52 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 55 vi APPENDIX A: FIGURES ............................................................................................................ 58 APPENDIX B: IMAGE PERMISSION FORMS....................................................................... 106 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 116 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: The Quadripartite Badge ................................................................................... 59 Figure 2: Maya Area Sites with the Quadripartite Badge ................................................. 60 Figure 3: Currently identified examples of the Quadripartite Badge by Site ................... 61 Figure 4: Currently identified examples of the Quadripartite Badge by Date .................. 62 Figure 5: Currently identified examples and their associations ........................................ 64 Figure 6: Tikal Incised Balckware Cache Vessel ............................................................. 66 Figure 7: Tikal Stela 2 ....................................................................................................... 67 Figure 8: Tikal Stela 6 ....................................................................................................... 68 Figure 9: Tikal Stela 25, left side ...................................................................................... 69 Figure 10: El Zapote Stela 5 ............................................................................................. 70 Figure 11: Naachtun Stela 26 ............................................................................................ 71 Figure 12: Caracol Stela 1 ................................................................................................
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