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The ancient Maya civilization occupied the eastern section, primarily the Yucatan Peninsula, of Mesoamerica. The Mayan civilization was not one unified empire, but was made up of separate entities with a cultural background. They were similar to the Greeks because they were a religious and artistic nation. MAYAN ART The art of the Maya resembled a reflection of their lifestyle and culture. The art was done by painting on paper and plaster, carving in wood and stone, clay and stucco models, and terra cotta figurines from molds. They created ornaments by working with metal. Many of the art pieces, inscriptions, and architecture were commissioned by Mayan kings to memoralize themselves and ensure their place in history. The art works are a reflection of the society and its interaction with surrounding people. One of the greatest shows of Mayan artistic ability and culture is the hieroglyphic stairway located at Copan. The stairway is composed of statues, figures, and ramps in addition to the central stairway which together port ray many elements of Mayan society. The figurine of a seated captive is also representative of Mayan society because it depicts someone in the process of a bloodletting ceremony, which included the accession to kingship. The rope collar which would usually mark this man as a captive, reveals that he is involved in a bloodletting rite. His genitals are exposed as he is just about to draw blood for the ceremony. Mayan dialects of Qhuche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, and Mam are still spoken today, although the majority of Indians also speak Spanish.
