Mayan Civilisation Camazotz Earthenware Bat God

Artist: Unknown (Mayan Civilisation).
Title: Camazotz - Death Bat - Bat God - Mesoamerican Mythology.
Medium: Clay, on a custom mahogany and brass plinth.
Condition: This work has some losses, the condition is commensurate with age.
Provenance: Private Collection Sydney

About: An early Camazotz earthenware fragment. Mayan civilisation, Camazotz, which roughly translates to death bat was associated with night, death, and sacrifice. It was a deity of the Zapotec indigenous people then later that of the Maya civilisation.

Camazotz was also referred to as the Bat God and was one of the Gods from Mesoamerican mythology. It had a devoted following amongst the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico and the figure was later adopted into the pantheon of the Maya Quiche tribe. Subsequently, the legends of the bat god were later recorded in early Mayan literature. There are variations of representation, although the grimacing teeth of the deity are always present.

The archaeological dating of Pre-Columbian antiquities to their periods and cultures is in part achieved by the variations in the representation of the Gods to that specific culture. Combined with consideration of the item’s craftsmanship, materials and size. However due to the problematic nature of researching lost civilisations, unfortunately, the specifics of the period, use and meaning can remain elusive and are often subject to an educated assumption at best. This work is part of an extensive collection of important antiquities within our culturally diverse collection.