The Temple of the Painted Niches, 97824 Yuc., Mexico
The Fisherman’s Temple is a structure consisting of several foundation levels stacked on top of each other with a staircase leading to the temple with frescoes.
In the fresco, you can see a scene in the water depicting a character who is believed to be an image of Kukulkan. This character has no head but is carrying a shield and wearing a headdress. The fresco also shows two fish and an image of a lizard with its mouth and hands tied. It is believed that this image represents the celestial crocodile Itzam Kaba Ayna or an earthly monster associated with ceremonies mentioned in the Chilam Balam books.
One of the most important features of these paintings is the clear influence of the Toltecs on the drawings and artistic techniques, which show a connection between this Maya area and the country’s center. This may have resulted from the direct influence of Chichen Itza, where for centuries there has been a fusion of the two cultures.
Considering the technical aspects of the painting, it uses bright color schemes, including a palette ranging from Maya blue to red, transitioning into ochre, yellow, and green tones. The colored planes are divided by black lines, linking this image to the Mixtec-Puebla style — an Eastern Coast style present in frescoes from other nearby sites such as Tulum.
On the other hand, the fresco has a naturalistic character, as it depicts a completely realistic fishing scene typical of everyday life. The image itself has a two-tone blue background, suggesting a water scene since this blue background with its two shades imitates waves. At the center of this background is a character in a dynamic pose, carrying a shield shaped like an olive snail and dressed in a typically Central Mexican skirt or loincloth, as well as what appears to be remnants of a headdress, despite the complete loss of the head and other luxury items such as bracelets.
Nevertheless, there are other possible interpretations of the fresco based on a range of symbols that could transform this character into something more than just a fisherman. This is the case with the symbols of the “precious stone” or “jade” skirt and serpentine elements, which together with the olive snail-shaped shield could link this character to both god N from the Dresden Codex and the god Quetzalcoatl or Venus as the morning star.
The central character is surrounded by three harpoon fish, two of which have already been shot by the fisherman; part of what appears to be a sea serpent; and a crocodile tied by the mouth and legs.
LOS MURALES DE MAYAPAN Y LA REFORMA RELIGIOSA: Carlos Peraza Lope, Swan Milbrath, Miguel Delgado
https://mayanpeninsula.com/sitio-arqueologico-de-mayapan/
