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.
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Were-Jaguar deity flanked by death skulls on
an ancient Maya burial urn. This is the front of a Quiche Maya
urn. |
The Museo Popol Vuh has the largest collection of this class of
urns in the world (over 100, of which at least twenty are of the large
size).When you are in Guatemala two museums
offer this class of Maya art, the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia e Etnologia
and the Museo Popol Vuh.The official web site of Museo Popol
Vuh is www.popolvuh.ufm.edu.gt.
All inquiries related to volunteer work
at
Museo Popol Vuh must be addressed to popolvuh@ufm.edu.gt,
or to the street address: Museo Popol Vuh Universidad Francisco Marroquin
6a calle final zona 10 Guatemala 01010 Tel. 361 2301, 361 2321The museum is on the same side of
the street as the Museo Ixchel de Textiles (Maya textile museum). Both
are on the campus of the Universidad
Francisco Marroquin, Sexta Calle Final, Zone 10, Guatemala City.
Professor Nicholas Hellmuth occasionally gives seminars and archaeology
classes at the Museum, or in Antigua Guatemala (one hour away from Guatemala
City). So if you want to learn more about ancient religion, pre-Columbian
ceramic art, and general archaeology, join Dr Hellmuth in the land of
the Maya. At the moment, however, he is in Essen, Germany, for peace
and quiet so he can finish his latest book on Maya art.
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Rollout of a Quiche urn by Nicholas Hellmuth and Tanja Rathjen.
Urn courtesy of Museo Popol Vuh, Universidad Francisco Marroquin, Guatemala. |
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