A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Mayan Backpiece

I really like this backpiece by Munpie in Antwerp, Belgium. If I’ve misidentified it and it’s Incan or Aztec, someone please correct me by the way.

subit236705.jpg

Comments

60 responses to “Mayan Backpiece”

  1. Leroy Avatar

    I’m sure that picture is in that Chariots Of The Gods book.

  2. Leroy Avatar

    I’m sure that picture is in that Chariots Of The Gods book.

  3. F. Xanatos Avatar
    F. Xanatos

    Absolutely beautiful

  4. F. Xanatos Avatar
    F. Xanatos

    Absolutely beautiful

  5. arcanobacterium Avatar
    arcanobacterium

    so sexy with the tattoo

  6. arcanobacterium Avatar
    arcanobacterium

    so sexy with the tattoo

  7. ItchyStitches Avatar
    ItchyStitches

    Wow, that is absolutely beautiful. I hope that when I get around to getting my backpiece, it turns out as amazing as that.

  8. ItchyStitches Avatar
    ItchyStitches

    Wow, that is absolutely beautiful. I hope that when I get around to getting my backpiece, it turns out as amazing as that.

  9. toe Avatar
    toe

    gorgeous and intricate work – the sleeves go well (not sure if they were supposed to originally or not)

    looks great and very sexy

  10. toe Avatar
    toe

    gorgeous and intricate work – the sleeves go well (not sure if they were supposed to originally or not)

    looks great and very sexy

  11. phrawzty Avatar
    phrawzty

    I really have no words to describe how much i like this peice. Amazing.

  12. phrawzty Avatar
    phrawzty

    I really have no words to describe how much i like this peice. Amazing.

  13. julien Avatar

    i am officially in love with belgian tattooing.

  14. julien Avatar

    i am officially in love with belgian tattooing.

  15. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    hah! that so awesome! thats a really nice tattoo, I smiled when I saw it 😛

  16. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    hah! that so awesome! thats a really nice tattoo, I smiled when I saw it 😛

  17. Quaid Avatar

    Your right Shannon… it is Maya in nature. The iconography is distinctly Maya, although it has been stylised somewhat. One glyph that i can see can be translated to “The scattering of blood (bloodletting ritual)”. Its a beautiful piece.

  18. Quaid Avatar

    Your right Shannon… it is Maya in nature. The iconography is distinctly Maya, although it has been stylised somewhat. One glyph that i can see can be translated to “The scattering of blood (bloodletting ritual)”. Its a beautiful piece.

  19. Vienna Avatar

    Simply amazing… *wow*

  20. Vienna Avatar

    Simply amazing… *wow*

  21. Neon Charge Eclipse Avatar

    Hahaha I was gonna say Wayde will wet himself when he sees this, but he obviously has already seen it:P

  22. Neon Charge Eclipse Avatar

    Hahaha I was gonna say Wayde will wet himself when he sees this, but he obviously has already seen it:P

  23. martian Avatar

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHIT”” amazing back piece’ regards from latinoamericaaa

  24. martian Avatar

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHIT”” amazing back piece’ regards from latinoamericaaa

  25. Micrurus Avatar
    Micrurus

    Well, I’m not an expert, but I’m from Peru, and that doesn’t seem to be Inca.

  26. Micrurus Avatar
    Micrurus

    Well, I’m not an expert, but I’m from Peru, and that doesn’t seem to be Inca.

  27. Kanga43 Avatar

    It gets a little busy but its vibrant enough to pull it off- I love it! The sleeves compliment it well, I would agree.

  28. Kanga43 Avatar

    It gets a little busy but its vibrant enough to pull it off- I love it! The sleeves compliment it well, I would agree.

  29. moof Avatar
    moof

    What Quaid said – although it’s super-duper stylized (and not really in the Maya style, IMVHO – albeit definitely with the iconography.) Hand-fish is definitely the good ol’ blood-sacrifice glyph. Can’t really make out the other ones, though – and the fact that he’s holding lightning is very strange.

  30. moof Avatar
    moof

    What Quaid said – although it’s super-duper stylized (and not really in the Maya style, IMVHO – albeit definitely with the iconography.) Hand-fish is definitely the good ol’ blood-sacrifice glyph. Can’t really make out the other ones, though – and the fact that he’s holding lightning is very strange.

  31. Venomous Intellect Avatar
    Venomous Intellect

    This is my fav. tattoo I have ever seen on modblog….. His sleeves are awesome also… beautiful tattoos!!! 🙂

  32. Venomous Intellect Avatar
    Venomous Intellect

    This is my fav. tattoo I have ever seen on modblog….. His sleeves are awesome also… beautiful tattoos!!! 🙂

  33. mpatshi Avatar

    now that’s a pretty backpiece!! I love backpieces, but it’s so hard to find a good one:) (for my taste that is)

  34. mpatshi Avatar

    now that’s a pretty backpiece!! I love backpieces, but it’s so hard to find a good one:) (for my taste that is)

  35. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Wonderfully strong and dramatic piece of work.

  36. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Wonderfully strong and dramatic piece of work.

  37. Ausmoz Avatar

    I love it when you post “quality” mods!

  38. Ausmoz Avatar

    I love it when you post “quality” mods!

  39. K Avatar
    K

    It is def. Central American Mayan/Aztec… Incan art has different qualities it tends to be a little more rustic and primitive than the central american cultures…. It is an amazing back piece!

  40. K Avatar
    K

    It is def. Central American Mayan/Aztec… Incan art has different qualities it tends to be a little more rustic and primitive than the central american cultures…. It is an amazing back piece!

  41. Wild SKin Avatar

    judging from some little details and specially how face is designed and other things i am able to say it’s almost 100% a mayan sculpture. incaic ones where more simpler, and aztec where from before mayans and have some differences on the design….nice tat!!!

  42. Wild SKin Avatar

    judging from some little details and specially how face is designed and other things i am able to say it’s almost 100% a mayan sculpture. incaic ones where more simpler, and aztec where from before mayans and have some differences on the design….nice tat!!!

  43. Pastille Avatar
    Pastille

    Hi thanks to everyone for the comments and just to tell you that yes i’m really proud of my backpiece(Munpie is really an awesome artist!),but we planned to add some black ink to the background!… that will be a lot more graphic,we tried it on a picture and it turned really well!… That idea of the black background is not from me or either from Munpie,it’s from another tattoo artist Mike who is tattooing in Zurich(i think!!!),so thanks to him!… and you now it now but yes once again it’s Maya and all the glyphes where chose for the aesthetic and not the meaning so don’t really try to understand it!They are not making any real sentences!

  44. Pastille Avatar
    Pastille

    Hi thanks to everyone for the comments and just to tell you that yes i’m really proud of my backpiece(Munpie is really an awesome artist!),but we planned to add some black ink to the background!… that will be a lot more graphic,we tried it on a picture and it turned really well!… That idea of the black background is not from me or either from Munpie,it’s from another tattoo artist Mike who is tattooing in Zurich(i think!!!),so thanks to him!… and you now it now but yes once again it’s Maya and all the glyphes where chose for the aesthetic and not the meaning so don’t really try to understand it!They are not making any real sentences!

  45. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    That is beautifully done and an amazing theme for a tattoo

  46. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    That is beautifully done and an amazing theme for a tattoo

  47. H-Elvis Avatar

    No it taken from a book, Munpie the artist is an old friend, and he freehanded the image before tattooing and it is based on an image on a clay vase…so its a one of a kind..excellent composition and execution.

  48. H-Elvis Avatar

    No it taken from a book, Munpie the artist is an old friend, and he freehanded the image before tattooing and it is based on an image on a clay vase…so its a one of a kind..excellent composition and execution.

  49. kptzeppoz Avatar
    kptzeppoz

    another masterpiece by the chief himself! far out!!

  50. kptzeppoz Avatar
    kptzeppoz

    another masterpiece by the chief himself! far out!!

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