A beautiful exhibition on the Maya of Guatemala takes place this summer at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris: 150 outstanding pieces, most of which had never left their homeland before.

The exhibition retraces the chronological development, peak, and decline of the Maya civilization, following the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1524.

The chosen objects come from three different regions of Guatemala: the highlands, the lowlands, and the Pacific coast. A large part of the exhibition is devoted to recent great archeological discoveries made on several different sites, especially that of El Mirador, highest on a list of five sites that have been selected for a possible nomination as UNESCO World Heritage.

Recent studies ease a chance to present a larger and more complex conception of the Maya civilization, describing the great variety and evolution of its social organization, architectural forms and artistic styles.

One room after the other introduces objects that have been part of this rich history (ceramic, tombstones, cut semiprecious stones, funerary elements, architectural remains, ornaments, etc.) as well as others, part of the more contemporary side of the exhibition which, by means of photography or film, draw a closer look to nowadays Maya culture through its costumes, rituals, etc.

Musée du Quai Branly

37, quai Branly

Paris

Opening hours:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm

Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 9pm

For more information

Sorosoro videos on the Maya of Guatemala: the Kaqchikel and the Tektiteko

More on the Mayan language family

More on the Mayan languages: Chontal, Chuj…