Early Classic and Late Classic polychrome Maya ceramics show enema rituals and the associated bibs, syringes, and enema jugs. For jugs, Dr. Hellmuth showed the giant multi-gallon ceramic containers of the liquid and also the smaller jugs of identical shape that hold only a quart or liter. The smaller jugs are more confusing since they are present in parades and self-sacrifice scenes on polychrome ceramics that may have no relation with enemas. The enema scenes include self-injection (by the individual man) or injection by females to men. Men clothed as jaguars are frequently seen in enema rituals. This discussion documents the history of discovery of enema rituals first published by Peter Furst and Michael Coe in 1977. Within three months of that release, Hellmuth made even more discoveries. He has continued his research since then to the present. The studies of Peter De Smet on which plant chemicals were used in an enema by the ancient Maya will also be discussed. This research won the Ig Nobel Prize 2022 for art history for Dr. Hellmuth and Dr. Peter De Smet. The iconographic aspect was updated for this presentation.
Dr. Hellmuth is director of FLAAR USA and FLAAR Mesoamerica. FLAAR stands Foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research, and Dr. Hellmuth manages a large team at their office in Guatemala City. Technical assistant Paul Nuñez Rouanet helped Dr. Hellmuth with this excellent presentation.
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21 ноя 2022
