Subject: sahal noble war chief

Culture: Maya

Setting: Late Classical Period, Mesoamerica ca.600-900

Object: costume

Headdress

* Domenici 2010 p85 f84

"Maya warriors were often noblemen and their clothing indicated this status. An example can be seen in the headdresses shaped like skulls and deer heads worn by ... Bonampak warriors."

* Anawalt 1981 p188

"In addition to the range of generalised male garments ..., specialist occupations evidently possessed their own styles of clothing. One particularly large and important group was made up of warriors whose awe-inspiring headdresses emulated animals, birds and alligators. This custom is illustrated not just by the Bonampak murals but also by a number of lowland figurines with zoomorphic helmets totally encasing the face."

* Foster 2002 p147

"The Classic Period Maya wore ... elaborate wooden and cloth headdresses, many of which were animal effigies that might have represented the animal spirit, or way, of the warrior. Rulers, for example, often claimed jaguars as their way. Many Classic Period warriors, however, were depicted with jaguar headdresses, perhaps indicating a specific warrior lineage or even that they were members of a military order."

Jewelry

Armor

* Schele/Miller 1986 p214

"Costumes on Jaina figurines show that for protection, the warrior frequently wore a garment covering the entire upper body, and he usually carried a flanged rectangular shield tufted with feathers and a weapon. The xicolli, or sleeveless tunic, was generally limited to warriors. Elaborate patterns were woven into these garments,, and in at least one example, the design includes stylized Tlaloc faces, normally a part of the jaguar-pelt costume. Although described at the time of the Conquest and worn by the Yaxchilan lords, tufted cotton armor is only occasionally seen on Jaina warriors."