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.