Ancient Mayan Decorations


Mayans constructed beautiful stone cities and religious temples without the use of metal tools or the wheel, since these tools had not yet been discovered by their culture. Much about Mayan culture is lost forever.

Decoration in relief, molded in stucco, reached a high degree of perfection in Palenque. Stucco was a very fine paste made of lime with a bit of sand in it, which was in turn applied over stone supports anchored to the walls, ceilings or crests. In many cases, the interior side of the walls were covered with stucco and later painted.

Ancient Mayan Body Decorations

Some body decorations were permanent. The Mayans squeezed the skulls of the most privileged infants between two boards to elongate and flatten their heads and tried to promote crossed eyes by hanging a ball from children's bangs in the center of their forehead.

Less permanent decorations, such as body paint, were donned for special occasions to mark the status of the wearer. Mayan warriors painted their faces and bodies with black and red colors, and priests painted themselves blue.

Ancient Mayan Jewellery

Jewellery was an important part of upper-class and royal dress. Pendants shaped like animals were especially popular. Maya artists crafted beautiful pots, urns, vases, goblets, plates, and jars with painted images and glyphs.

ancient mayan jewelry

The Mayans had a sense of beauty that would be seen as hideous in our present society. They practiced skull deformation by tying boards to the forehead of newborn children. Mayans had tattooing and body piercing.

Ancient Mayan Masks

The ancient Maya made exquisite masks from stone, wood, gold, obsidian, and shell. These masks often contained many pieces of jade arranged in mosaic patterns. Maya royalty also had personal items beautifully decorated in these patterns.

Ancient Mayan Clothing

The Mayans are known by their typical traditional clothing, which are mainly woven by the women. The most beautiful designs of weaves are found in Chiapas, Mexico. Women that belonged to this group have always worn the huipil.This is a kind of a decorative blouse, which is made of lightweight cotton.

ancient mayan Clothing

Particular motifs were used to design traditional Mayan clothing and are still seen on these beautiful garments. One specific motif of a diamond is the main design element for the huipils. The diamond represents the sun.

Ancient Mayan Architecture

One of the best known architectural sites for the Mayas is, of course, their huge and breathtaking temples. The Mayas built their temples on immense pyramids with steeped bases, and each side of the pyramid had a set of steps that lead up to the temple.

Mayan Art King Pacal Sculpture is one of the beautiful decorations left behind by Mayans. King Pacal was born in the year 603 A.D. He was Mayan King of Palenque and reigned for 67 years until his death at the age of 80. The name "Pacal" means "shield". They produced some of the finest art and architecture of the Maya civilization.

At Uaxactun, Tikal, and nearby Maya sites throughout Peten and adjacent Belize, Mexico, as well as Honduras, the earliest full-color portraits of jaguars, ocelots and margays were as decorations for the lids of basal flange bowls or tetrapods.

More info on- Mayan Arts, Architecture

 

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