Lady Xoc, pulls a thorn-laden rope through her tongue. The blood collected would then be burned and send as a sacrifice skyward in honor of the birth of her son.

Cast of a relief sculpture from the Mayan ceremonial city of Yaxchilan (Mexico-Guatemala border). 
Part of lintels spanning doorways to Temples built by the ruler Shield-Jauar in 724-726 A.D. - at the Field 
Museum, Chicago, Illinois.

Note: drawing of human blood was thought to nourish the Gods and necessary for maintaining contact with Gods and ancestors through self-sacrifice.

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