Classic Maya art
Stepped temple-pyramids and carved stelae where kings and gods speak in glyphs
How to recognise it
- Steep stepped pyramids topped by a temple
- Carved roof combs crowning the temples
- Stelae of rulers in towering headdresses
- Square glyph blocks set in columns
- Corbelled vaults over narrow rooms
Why it emerged
Dozens of rival city-states competed in grandeur: divine kings raised temples over their ancestors' tombs and carved genealogies and victories on stelae to legitimize their rule.
Examples
Tikal Temple I (Temple of the Great Jaguar)c. 732A 47 m temple over the tomb of King Jasaw Chan K'awiil — the emblem of Tikal
Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenquec. 675–683Pakal's tomb, with a jade mask and carved sarcophagus, was found inside in 1952
Bonampak muralsc. 790The most complete Maya mural cycle: battle, judgement of captives and a court festival
Yaxchilan Lintel 24c. 725Lady K'abal Xook performs a bloodletting rite — a masterpiece of Maya stone carvingMeanwhile elsewhere
- Nok terracottas Africa
- Ancient Roman art Europe
- Gandhara art Asia
- Byzantine art Europe
- Insular art (Ireland and Britain) Europe
- Early Islamic art (Umayyad and Abbasid) Middle East
- Moorish style (al-Andalus) Europe
- Khmer art of Angkor Asia
- Yamato-e, Heian Japanese painting Asia