Mask of Calakmul – Funerary Piece of the Maya Culture

The Mask of Calakmul is inspired by a funerary mask discovered in Tomb 1 of Structure VII at the archaeological site of Calakmul, located in present-day Campeche, Mexico. The original artifact dates between A.D. 660 and 750 and reflects the profound spiritual beliefs of the Classic Maya period.

Jade, the essential material of Maya royal funerary masks, symbolized life, renewal, and the eternal breath of the soul. This sculptural interpretation highlights three key symbolic elements. The shell represents the underworld and was closely associated with rituals of self-sacrifice. The ear ornaments, shaped as four-petaled flowers, embody the Mesoamerican cosmic model, in which the world is structured by four sacred directions. The fangs, shaped as serpents, evoke the celestial realm, as the serpent was believed to move freely between the sky, the earthly plane, and the underworld. Together, these elements express the Maya vision of the cosmos and the spiritual journey of the soul beyond life.

Artist: LESVIA NINET HERNÁNDEZ MARTÍNEZ