In Maya art, gods were not static icons but beings who aged and died.
In short: This virtual exhibition tour explores how ancient Maya artists depicted their deities through every stage of life. By tracing these divine life cycles from birth to transformation, the exhibition reveals a worldview where the human, natural, and supernatural realms were deeply interconnected.
The exhibition showcases masterpieces from the Classic period, spanning A.D. 250 to 900. These works, originating from royal cities in modern-day Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, illustrate gods as they transition from infancy to maturity and eventually death, serving as powerful symbols of regeneration and resilience.
Curators Joanne Pillsbury, Oswaldo Chinchilla Mazariegos, and Laura Filloy Nadal guide viewers through a diverse collection of artifacts. These range from monumental sculptures to intricate ornaments crafted from jade, shell, and obsidian. Through these objects and finely painted ceramics, the exhibition highlights the imaginative ways Maya artists captured the divine, portraying gods as everything from blossoming flowers to fearsome nocturnal creatures.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art Virtual Opening | Met Exhibitions
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