Over-Huipil
The Ceremonial Plate, Rupan Plato
Comalapa, Chimaltengo
Plocharski Collection (P-133)
The rupan läq, or rupan plato is an ancient symbol of great prestige, found on the Comalapa (Chimaltenango) huipil and over -huipil. Its Kaqchikel name means “its interior or contents of the plate”. There are numerous pre-Hispanic precedents regarding the use of plates as important elements in the practice of a wide range of ceremonies. For example, in the Dresden Codex, written between AD 1250 and 1500, their many references to plates bearing ritual offerings. There are a variety of diamond-shaped figures called rupan läq. One of these is a diamond containing four smaller ones. Another is a diamond surrounded by rays.