Sensory System

Pain

Context

Looking at the plaster cast in a museum

Temporality

Contemporary Cambridge

Description

This plaster cast was taken from a site in modern Mexico. It shows a blood-letting ritual that the kneeling Lady K'abal Xook is undergoing, pulling a rope of obsidian blades (at one time thought to be thorns) through her tongue. This would have been painful for her, but the original linten this cast was taken from was set over the doorway in the building, so it would have been seen with the viewers neck strained back, presumably by the light of a torch or lantern. Standing over Lady K'abal Xook is the king, Bird Jaguar, holding a flaming torch. It would have been difficult and painful to look at this lintel for long.

Relationships

• Balance
• Temperature
• Visual

Content Type

Physical collection

Accessible

Yes