These page feature archaeology information and Images
of pre-Columbian Maya art from the Museo Popol Vuh. The purpose of this
section of the FLAAR Maya archaeology web sites is to draw attention to
the museums of Guatemala to encourage more people to visit them.
To appreciate the genius of the
Classic Maya artists and scribes, a visit to the Museo Popol Vuh is essential.
Although 90% of the visitors to Guatemala visit Antigua or Chichicastenango,
and perhaps 50% visit Tikal, too few reach the museums. The exhibits
are well designed in a modern manner. The building is new and looks suitably
impressive.The exhibits include a colorful display of animals in Maya
art. In addition to pre-Columbian art, the museum has a really nice selection
of Spanish colonial art.
Ritual suicide pictured in a death dance of
nagual, way animal spirit companions, on a precolumbian pot from the
Tikal area, Guatemala.
"Castillo Bowl," central Peten area, Late Classic, shows a remarkable
scene of crazed dancers. One is cutting off his own head in a zealous
frenzy; another is holding a sacrificed baby in a platter; another grasps
an enema clyster. Other characters include animals, conceived to be an
alter ego of the soul. We can estimate the pot came from the central Peten
because the hieroglyphic text includes the Tikal Emblem glyph.
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