1964.24 Seated Bearded Man (Maya, Jaina, Campeche)


GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Probably a portrait of a Classic Maya nobleman, this figure wears a large shell on his chest. The Maya favored spiny oyster shells with bright red exteriors and lords often wore them on pilgrimages to important festivals. Maya weavers of the Classic period were famous throughout Mesoamerica for their cotton textiles.

1968.39.FA Wall panel depicting Ix K'an Bolon in ritual dress (Tabasco, Mexico, Maya)


GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Monumental Maya stone sculpture took the form of free-standing stela and plaza altars, or architectural door lintels and wall panels. The sculptures often combine an elaborate figural scene with hieroglyphic texts, which may appear both outside of and embedded within the figuration.