K1201 is another polychrome cylindrical vessel from the Late Classic Period. While it may at first appear to be in good condition, this may be due to modern repainting. The scene it depicts shows three figures, two wearing jaguar pelt clothing on either side of the central figure, who appears to be bound.

This leftmost figure (Figure 2) has previously been identified by others as the Jaguar War God; I instead believe it may be the Pax God. First, the Jaguar War God does appear in the scene, on the right side (Figure 3). He and the Pax God frequently appear together in these underworld scenes, and this may be yet another example. Second, this figure has a forehead mirror, an iconographic trait that the Jaguar War God almost never has, with the exception of a few glyphic examples. This mirror is a frequent trait of the Pax God, though. The other typical traits of the Pax God are a missing lower jaw and a jaguar paw ear. While this example lacks both, possibly due to repainting, it does include jaguar paw hands, a known substitute for the jaguar paw ear as seen on K9152. The other traits of this figure are the singular T-shaped tooth and the large eye with a curled pupil, which can be found on many examples of the Pax God and the Jaguar War God.

The rightmost figure (Figure 3) is a much clearer depiction of the Jaguar War God. He has the jaguar pattern around his jaw, the T-shaped tooth, the jaguar ear, and the large eye with curled pupil. In his left hand, he holds what is either an atlatl or an axe.

The central bound figure, likely captured by the Jaguar War God and Pax God, may be a rare example of an anthropomorphic shark. The Jaguar War God and Pax God appear together in several other shark-hunting scenes, such as K0595 and K9152, and this scene may be a part of that same story. While at first glance this figure might resemble the rain god Chahk, his iconographic features are more shark-like, specifically the dual nose piercings and the jester god head attached to the back of his own. He also has a forehead mirror, possibly with an AK’AB ‘darkness’ glyph, as well as a belt marked with the same glyph. On his lower back, a single “god-marking” glyph can be found, and across his arms, stomach, and legs, a serpentine pattern is present. The border resembles a shell design, but the glyph itself has more earth-like qualities. The hands of this anthropomorphic shark are tied behind his back and connected to a bundle with several glyphs inside. The Maya Hieroglyphic Database calls them pseudoglyphs; however, the entry for this object on the Hollis Database gives an actual reading of aj k’al k’uh “he who presents the god.”

Sources
Justin Kerr photograph collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University, Washington, DC.
Looper, Matthew G. and Martha J. Macri
1991-2026 Maya Hieroglyphic Database. Department of Art and Art History, California State University, Chico. http://www.mayadatabase.org