A Vision Serpent decorates the corner of the new Throne Room

Photo: Palace of Labna detail of vision serpent in corner frieze

Serpent jaws enclosing a human head are known collectively as a Vision Serpent, an important actor in the vision quest bloodletting ritual performed by the new ruler before being publically enthroned.

The serpent is a conduit linking the underworld with the human realm, a road for the divine ancestor to come back to the world and accept/bless the new ruler as his successor.



Closeup photo of the human head emerging from the jaws of the Vision Serpent

Palace of Labna, front view of vision serpent on room 18

There are several such sculptures of serpent jaws with human heads in the Puuc Region. They are found in corners and entablatures of public buildings, for example in the sub-structure of the Great Pyramid of Uxmal.



Vision Serpent iconography includes celestial, terrestrial & aquatic elements

Palace of Labna, human face carved in the foundation moulding below the vision serpent portrayed in the frieze

The composition in the southwest corner of Room 18 of the Palace in Labna is not a sculpture, but a highly elaborated mosaic mask which includes a crocodilian monster with fins, stars, vegetation and feathers which represent a combination of celestial, terrestrial, and aquatic worlds.



A carved ancestor figure similar to the faces on the earlier throne room foundation

Ancestor figure at base of Room 18 of the Palace

As an interesting detail, there is a human face carved at the basal corner molding below the vision serpent.

Most probably the carved face symbolizes an important ancestor of the ruler who promoted the construction of this building, consecrated on September 19, 862 AD. Similar ancestor heads were found in the basal molding of the older throne anteroom, Room 23.