2-604-962 - © CM Dixon/Heritage Images

Lintel 15 of Yaxchilan Structure 21, Mayan, Mexico, 770. Carved limestone lintel with glyphs and a scene representing Lady Wak Tuun, during a bloodletting rite. She carries a basket with the items used for auto-sacrifice: stingray spine, a rope and bloodied paper. The Vision Serpent appears before her springing from a bowl set before her which also contains strips of bark-paper. From the British Museum, London, 8th century.