Main Floor

Permanent Exhibit

THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE FOREST, the rhythm of burning and planting, and the cycles of birth and death shaped the myth, ritual, and pageantry that are celebrated in art and architecture of these ancient and contemporary peoples. This exhibit features exact copies of Classic Maya monuments—four towering stelae and two massive zoomorphs—from the ancient city of Quiriguá, Guatemala, covered with hieroglyphs that recount the stories of Maya rulers and gods. The exhibit backdrop is a colorful mural resplendent with the animals and birds of the jungle surrounding the Ceiba tree, the symbolic tree of life that links the heavens, earth, and underworld. Exhibit cases contain fine examples of Maya pottery and figurines, as well as information on how the giant monuments were carved more than 1200 years ago.