Carved facial symbol of the Lamanai Mask Temple
Carved facial symbol of
the Lamanai Mask Temple
The Mask Temple a Maya structure believed to represent the early ruler of Lamanai wears a crocodile headdress further supporting the idea that the city was originally called Lamanai The mask is adorned with a crocodile headdress consistent with the name Lamanai which means submerged crocodile Some suggest that another carving may have been covered by a stone wall of the face The original mask was made of limestone and thus vulnerable to erosion from prolonged weatheringThe limestone also erodes from chemical exposure.
A stela was moved from an unknown location from a type of pottery collected around it during sacred rituals These pieces include incense burners which have been influenced by the Maya Inside the Mask Temple is the tomb of a man wearing jade and shell jewelry This tomb also contained textiles and mats Nearby two other tombs belonging to two Lamanai rulers are found dating back to the same period.
The Mask Temple is one of the earliest Mayan structures once characterized by independent city-states with a class system ruled by a sacred king Mayan civilization was highly organized with priests writers kings engineers and a middle class The Maya civilization excelled in architecture and sophisticated writing systems including pyramid temples and its knowledge of mathematics and astronomy The city center consisted of a complex of ceremonial buildings including pyramid temples and observatories It flourished from 500 BC to 1502 AD centered in the city of Oaxaca now El Peru and was contemporary with the Teotihuacan civilization.
Olmec mask on the Mask Temple Lamanai. / Image credit: Bernt Rostad
Both cities were situated amidst the jade mines of Guatemala. Evidence of the temple's continued existence suggests trade networks with Copán or Quirigua Numerous jade tombs demonstrate trade links with the region which was rich in jade consistent with the establishment of nearby cities and the importance of jade mining in Guatemala.
Structures of the Lamanai civilization Of the three pre-Columbian temples excavated the other two are the Jaguar Temple and the High Temple Construction likely began around 200 BC. Believed to have been collected during rituals when the temple was rebuilt the mask features the broad lips and nose the upturned upper lip and broad African nose typical of Maya architecture suggesting a tradition of symmetry in these masks The temple has been modified with the mask carved on the right wall The rest of the temple is made of limestone after the construction of the original temple.
