Examples of Ancient Mayan Art
A look at the arts and art history of one of the Americas' greatest civilizations.
Who Were the Ancient Mayans?
The people we refer to as the Ancient Mayans were the citizens of many different but culturally linked societies of Mesoamerica. Collectively, we refer to them as the Maya Civilization, and there are still millions of Maya people living in the region today. Their history extends back thousands of years, with first settlements dated to about 2600 BCE. Mayan kingdoms reigned up to the final Spanish conquest of the city of Nojpeten, in modern Guatemala, in 1697.
Over these thousands of years, Mayan cultures grew, expanded, and interacted with other cultures around them. There was never a single, unified ‘Mayan Empire.’ Rather, Mayan societies functioned somewhat like the Renaissance city-states of Italy; despite common cultural ties, they didn’t share a sense of ‘Mayan’ identity. Between them, the Mayan states developed a sophisticated writing system and possessed advanced knowledge of architecture, astronomy, and mathematics. They built many impressive cities, often with lavish palaces, temples, and public spaces.
What is Ancient Mayan Art?
As you might expect from such a large and successful civilization, the Ancient Mayans left behind beautiful objects and structures. However, countless artifacts were destroyed by the Spanish during their conquest and colonization of the region. Gold items, for example, were nearly always melted down into ingots to enrich the Spanish Empire. Other artworks were destroyed to sever the ties of the Maya people with their past. Despite this effort to wipe out evidence of Mayan Civilization, a small fraction of artworks survived for us to appreciate and study today.
Mayan art served many purposes, but most pieces revolved around the elites of Mayan society and its religious worship. Their artisans were accomplished stone carvers, metalworkers, woodcarvers, weavers, painters, and potters. Of these, works created in materials like stone, jade, gold, and ceramic have best withstood the test of time.
The Mayans excelled at both geometric patterns and natural forms, such as human beings and animals. They often incorporated art into their architecture, creating complex surfaces that told stories and conveyed symbolic meanings. Their written language, the Maya script, combined glyphs representing syllables and was often carved into buildings as well.
How did the Ancient Mayans Use Art?
As in many civilizations, most Mayan art was produced for its elite members of society. As a result, it tends to glorify the deeds and reigns of Mayan lords or focuses on Mayan deities and mythology. In other cases, art was used to embellish the tools of everyday life, like the ceramic bowl shown below.
One common and highly visible form of Mayan art was the stela, a carved stone column that could be over 20 feet tall. These stelae commemorated the lives and deeds of a city’s kings. They were designed to be long-lasting, and hundreds have survived to the present day.
Mayan art also heavily influenced its architectural styles. Stone carvings and patterns adorn many of the Mayan structures still standing today. In the most elaborate cases, plaster stucco was shaped into large faces, called masks, which blended into the rest of the building. These generally portrayed rulers or gods. Walls could also be decorated with painted murals, though only a few have survived.
In addition, countless smaller pieces have been recovered. These objects, often sculpted from stone, wood, or clay, reveal glimpses into the lives and lifestyles of the various Mayan kingdoms. The most common objects produced were portraits of people or decorative items, like the bowl displayed earlier. These were almost always commissioned by wealthy Mayan patrons, and the subjects of their portraits reflect this—nearly always an elite person or deity. Individual artists enjoyed a more elevated status than in most ancient societies, similar again to Renaissance Italy. You can even find the signatures of artists on their work, and some were far more coveted than others.
For smaller works, perhaps the most valued material to use was jade. In Mayan tradition, jade represent the power of life, endurance, and growth and was one of the hardest materials available. Carved jade masks and jewelry were especially popular.
How did Ancient Mayan Art Change Over Time?
Mayan art is a living tradition, and it has been changing by time and location for thousands of years. The height of Ancient Mayan art is generally considered to have occurred during the Classic Period, c. 250 to 900 CE. This era saw multiple Mayan kingdoms reach the peak of their wealth and influence. From Southeastern Mexico to Honduras, Mayan cities both competed for and exchanged knowledge and goods. This led to advanced specializations in the arts, with cities able to monumental temple carvings, fine jewelry, and intricate paintings.
Perhaps the most artistically advanced city was Palenque. Though smaller than other contemporary kingdoms, Palenque’s ruins are notable for their sophisticated architecture and finely manufactured artifacts.
Toward the end of the Classic Period, many of these Mayan kingdoms experienced catastrophic failures and were abandoned. This is generally thought to have happened due to factors like drought, overpopulation, and rigid traditions that made adaptation difficult. While some cities survived, the golden age of the Maya had come to an end. A few hundred years later, contact with Spanish explorers and conquerors would see much of the Mayan population subjugated and their artworks destroyed. Today’s Maya people produce art that reflects both their heritage and the modern societies they are part of.
How did Ancient Mayan Art Influence Other Cultures?
The Mayans were one of the most stable and influential civilizations in the history of the Americas. Their advancements and trade goods trickled both north and south along trade routes, which brought new goods and ideas back as well. Closer to home, in Mesoamerica, Mayan art had a profound impact on other civilizations like the Olmecs, Aztecs, and the great city of Teotihuacan. And of course, as you look through these images, you may recognize imagery and themes that have persisted to the modern day. The Mayan aesthetic is still alive and well, and it is now celebrated by artists around the globe.
References
Doyle, James. “Ancient Maya Sculpture.” The Met, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2–16-04, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mayas/hd_mayas.htm.
Doyle, James. “Set in Stone: Maya Rulers in the Great Hall.” The Met, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2 Sept. 2021, www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/articles/2021/9/maya-stelae-great-hall.
Mazariegos, Chinchilla Oswaldo. Art and Myth of the Ancient Maya. Yale University Press, 2022.
Spinden, Herbert. A Study of Maya Art - Its Subject Matter and Historical Development. 1st Edition, Peabody Museum, 2022.
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