Pierced Hand Glyph
with comment by Diane Wirth
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When Jesus descended to the Nephites, He invited them to come forth and, "...thrust your hands into My side, And also feel the prints of the nails in My hands and in My feet, that ye may know that I am God of Israel and the God of the whole earth and have been slain for the sins of the world." (3 Nephi 11:14)
A "Pierced Hand" glyph called TZUTZ and meaning "to end, to complete, to finish" is used as a marker for the completion of specific time periods of the Maya Long Count calendar. This glyph, which shows the right hand, with the index finger extended, and a hole or wound in the outer palm is associated withe blood and holiness in Mayan.
In just this brief glimpse, the pierced hand glyph is probably the most powerful evidence from Mesoamerican archaeology of the visitation of the resurrected Messiah to the Nephites! Its meaning reflects the last words of Jesus on the cross . . "It is finished." (John 19:10) . . before he gave up the ghost. The scars in his hands, feet and side are marks of His infinite and eternal sacrificial covenant. He had also shown the scars in His hands and His side to His disciples before His ascension, then later, when Thomas was with them, told him to "reach hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side . . ." (John 20:20, 25).
Comment on Pierced Hand Glyph
by Diane Wirth
I understand Shirley Heater has a right to her opinion, but what she terms the "Pierced Hand Glyph" in relation to the pierced hand of Christ, is highly speculative. No Mayanist would say that the Tzutz glyph is a "Pierced Hand Glyph." Instead, they note that what is depicted on the side of the hand is a "bauble." This could represent a precious jade bead.There are various hand glyphs with different positions, and all have the bauble. These hands represent a verb and an action. The bauble can be either on the palm or on the back of the hand. With these various positions they can mean several actions: arrive, enter, interfere, grasp, to tie up, to receive, grab, touch, end, to finish or complete, to enclose, fasten, etc. These hand glyphs have nothing to do with Christ's pierced hands, and as far as I know, a hole or wound in the outer palm is not associated with blood and holiness among the Maya (unless it is post-Conquest). The closest to that assumption would be the scattering glyph which is a typical hand (with bauble) scattering blood, water, or other things that are considered holy.
I felt I had to pass this information on because sometimes tour guides on an LDS trip would talk about this (I've even heard it). In my professional opinion, t's just wishful thinking.
Diane Wirth, MA
For a short biography of Diane Wirth, go to www.bmaf.org/bio/diane_wirth