Maya Art (javi mm)

Maya´s art

In this page we are goin to talk about the Maya´s art: architecture,stone sculpture and mural paintings.

ARCHITECTURE

The layout of the Maya towns and cities, and more particularly of the ceremonial centers where the royal families and courtiers resided, is characterized by the rhythm of immense horizontal stucco floors of plazas often located at various levels, connected by broad and often steep stairs, and surmounted by temple pyramid. Under successive reigns, the main buildings were enlarged by adding new layers of fill and stucco coating. Irrigation channels, reservoirs, and drains made up the hydraulic infrastructure. Outside the ceremonial center (especially in the southern area sometimes resembling an acropolis) were the structures of lesser nobles, smaller temples, and individual shrines, surrounded by the wards of the commoners. Dam-like causeways (sacbeob) spread from the 'ceremonial centers' to other nuclei of habitation. Fitting in with the concept of a `teatre state´, more attention appears to have been given to aesthetics than to solidity of construction. Careful attention, however, was placed on directional orientation.

STONE SCULPTURE

The Maya are perhaps most famous for their work in stone. They built many monumental structures including tall pyramids and palaces. They also made a lot of sculptures out of stone. 

One popular type of Maya sculpture was the stela. A stela was a large tall stone slab covered with carvings and writing.

 The stela was popular during the Classic Maya period when most major cities had stela built in honor of their kings. Stela were often located near altars. 

A Maya Stela

CARVING

The Maya also created detailed carvings in other materials such as wood and jade. Although only a few wood carvings have survived, archeologists believe that wood carvings were very popular pieces of art for the Maya. 

MURAL PAINTINGS

The Maya painted murals on the walls of their buildings including their houses, temples, and public buildings. The murals  including scenes from daily life, mythology, battles, and religious ceremonies. Unfortunately, due to the high humidity of the region, few of the murals have survived. 

CERAMICS

Maya ceramics are an important art form. The Maya created their pottery without the use of a potter's wheel. They decorated their pottery with elaborate designs and scenes. Archeologists are able to learn a lot about different periods and cities of the Maya through the scenes painted or carved into their pottery. 

WRITING

The writing uses a number of symbols and pictures and the books can be considered delicate works of art. 

Although none of the materials from the Maya age have survived to this time, archeologists can tell through the paintings, writings, and carvings, the type of clothes that the Maya created.  The nobles wore decorated clothing and huge headdresses. 


           headdresses