Jaina (House Over the Sea) lies just off the coast of Yucatan and boasts two crumbling pyramids but they are not what make both archaeologists and art lovers leap for joy. The entire island is a necropolis, where, for centuries before and after the conquest, the Maya elite were interred, usually with a jade bead in their mouths and accompanied by grave goods much as they were in other Maya burial grounds. What is unusual about
the Jaina burials is the astonishing artistry and beauty of the small
figurines clutched in the hands of the dead. These tiny statues, only
a few inches tall, capture intimate glimpses of upper class Mayan life
and styles in clay still showing traces of the vivid colors with which
they were painted. Some are hollow with clay pellets that rattle; others
have holes and serve as whistles or ocarinas. Surprisingly,
none have been ritually killed by breaking or piercing as
was usual with votive offerings. |