October 12, 2019 at Penn Museum Christopher Layser delivered a talk entitled “Maya Skyscape Iconography and ‘The Vase of the Count of Days’.”
This research examines a Classic Period (600-800 CE) Maya ceramic vase, formerly designated K1485, and explores whether the image painted upon it meets the requirements of the definition for a skyscape as defined by Fabio Silva. Chris uses the three-phase methodology of iconological analysis, introduced by Erwin Panofsky, to explore the ancient Maya celestial iconography and present an argument that the personages represented in the painting depict manifestations of the sky gods whose interactions make possible the count of days.
Chris Layser holds an MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology from the University of Wales TSD and is on the board of the Pre-Columbian Society of the Penn Museum. Much of his fieldwork was completed in Belize, where he participates in excavation and 3D spatial analysis as a volunteer with the Maya Research Program. He is employed as a senior network engineer in Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife and two golden retrievers.