The word Ajaw (pronounced ah-how) is the name of the first day in the 260-day ritual calendar. It also means "lord" or divine ruler. The whimsical faces associated with the glyphic form of Ajaw look like monkeys or bones but also had another meaning. They can be phonetically read as "nic-te" or flower. "Sac nic-te" (white flower) is a metaphor for the soul, and these stone heads that once adorned temples in the East Court are symbols for that concept. The sculptors' humor shows in this mix of funny faces that also had a serious side.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.