Get to know ancient Maya art by looking closely at a stone monument showing a powerful Maya queen dripping in jade ornaments.

Her name is Ix Mutal Ahaw.

This stone sculpture (called a stela) dates back to 760 CE and was found in the Usumacinta region of Mexico/Guatemala. On display at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, this stela immortalizes the queen as a powerful figure with important divine connections.

Her clothing and jade

She wears elaborate clothing and adornments, including a feathered headdress made of quetzal feathers, and she holds a ceremonial object that looks like a femur bone. The jade connects her to the Maize God. Queen Ix Mutal Ahaw is also experiencing a vision of a serpent and an ancestor, all of which communicate to anyone seeing this that she is powerful. It also increases her family’s power.

Maya art can be incredibly complex—and sometimes overwhelming! This video breaks down the details in this stone monument to explore how Maya rulers used public art, like steles, to publicize their authority and ability to talk to the gods.

Connections to the gods

This video also discusses the importance of jade, the lightning god K’awiil, and the Maize God. Most importantly, it also talks about the important role of women in ancient Maya culture.

This video will appeal to anyone looking for content about women in art, queens, ancient Maya culture, medieval art, portraiture, and the AP Art History 250 materials.