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.
Images || VR
Objects
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.
Maya Art, Artifacts, and Antiquities
in Guatemala
 The
purpose of this section of the FLAAR archaeology web sites is to draw
attention to the museums of Guatemala to encourage more people to visit
them. The Museo Popol Vuh is the most modern of all the museums in Central
America, in terms of physical facilities and in terms of interest in
learning about advanced technology of display. Museum occupies several
rooms here at the Universidad Francisco
Marroquin.
The museum is operated by a Board
of Directors of leading citizens of Guatemala who are especially interested
in the preservation and public display of the collection which was entrusted
by the original founders' donation . This magnanimous gift has been
combined with donations of additional collections each year from other
people in Guatemala. The capable staff operates the museum guided by
the desire to provide an educational focus for people who wish to see
and learn about the pre-Columbian past of Guatemala.
 
Although
the museum is best known for its funerary ceramics, the collection includes
a variety of portable stone sculptures, especially from the Pre classic
period and from the coast and adjacent highlands. The exhibit of Quiche
funerary urns is the best of any museum in the world. The section on
Maya pottery includes some of the great Maya vases and bowls, many of
which are frequently pictured in coffee table art books.
The curator is archaeologist Dr Oswaldo Chinchilla, a respected scholar
and epigrapher.
For many years the museum was on Avenida Reforma in Zone 9, and unfortunately
most guidebooks still picture it there. In actuality the Museo Popol
Vuh is now permanently situated on the campus of the Universidad Francisco
Marroquin in Zone 10. The museum is directly across the street from
the Museo Ixchel de Textiles (Maya textile museum). No bus serves these
museums so you need to walk downhill from Sexta Avenida or call a yellow
cab, 332 1515 (especially for the ride back uphill). The museum is open
Monday through Friday 9 to 5, and Saturday morning. The museum is closed
on Sunday. Research facilities inside the museum include a library loaned
by Nicholas Hellmuth+FLAAR together with the library of the museum itself.
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. (502) 361- 2301, (502) 361-
2321
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