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3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97202-8199

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A talk by Alejandra Roche-Recinos.

Iconoclasm—the intentional destruction of religious objects—has been attested globally in a wide variety of contexts and forms. Some cases of iconoclasm result from spontaneous expressions of religious fervor, while others occur regularly and performatively as ritualized acts of closure and transition. Distinguishing between the two can be difficult, however, with different processes damaging religious objects in similar ways and thereby obscuring the particular context and motivation for destruction. In this talk, Roche-Recinos will explore a potential methodology for identifying and distinguishing between different forms of iconoclasm, in the context of the ancient Maya people of Mesoamerica. Throughout the Classic period (250–900 CE) the ancient Maya created numerous stone sculptures that served to record historical, dynastic, and religious information. These monuments usually depict rulers, but they were more than just portraits: they were imbued with the ruler’s vital essence and understood to be a manifestation of their being. As such, many such monuments show signs of destruction, particularly targeting facial features and glyphs associated with the names of the rulers. By examining these instances of destruction systematically and with attention to technique, we can detect regional and chronological patterns of iconoclasm that reflect different circumstances and motivations for iconoclasm. Doing so helps us better understand the context of particular destruction events while also providing insights on Maya ideas of vitality, power, and social change.

Sponsored by the Greek, Latin, and Ancient Mediterranean Studies department, the Dean of the Faculty, and the Archaeological Institute of America. Free and open to the public.

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