From the heart of Guatemala: Stories that Empower
From the heart of Guatemala to the world: REVISTA by SoyMigrante.com shares the powerful stories of Guatemalan migrants.
MERCADO uplifts local artisans through handmade products that preserve tradition and create opportunity.
Join us in celebrating culture, identity, and resilience.
A podcast powered by AI — but the stories and products are real.
From the heart of Guatemala: Stories that Empower
Migrating Maya Jewels: Mayan Vase - Nahuales/Elements Journey to the Underworld
This episode focuses on a significant piece of pre-Columbian Mayan art housed at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama: a polychrome cylindrical vase from the Petén region of Guatemala, dating between 250 and 900 A.D.
The vase is notable for its artistic quality, symbolic richness, and the enigmatic depiction of three animal figures – a monkey, a jaguar, and a coatí (pizote) – portrayed as nahuales, spiritual entities in Maya belief. The referenced article explores the potential meaning and context of these figures, linking them to the Mayan underworld and funerary practices, while also highlighting the vase's journey to the museum and the importance of preserving Mayan cultural heritage.
