The symbolism of jade for the Maya and other peoples of Mesoamerica is little known. However, it has been the subject of countless discussions among academics and scholars of these civilizations, who have shown – and expressed – special interest in the singular meaning that the Maya, the Toltecs, the Olmecs, the Aztecs, among others, gave to this stone.
Jade is formed by large underground pressures and it rises to the surface due to the movement of tectonic plates. The presence of different minerals provides the variety of colors that it is known. However, the most common and appreciated by the Maya was the semi transparent water green known as imperial jade.
In the Sierra de las Minas, where the Motagua fault is located, the largest sources of jade in Guatemala is found, from which it was obtained and distributed to all Mesoamerican cultures. For this reason, the Maya had the monopoly of the jade and all their leaders and members of the elite used it.
For the Mayas, jade was more valuable than gold. Its extreme hardness allows it to remain unchangeable in time. That is why it was associated with eternity and immortality. And although they took years, even generations, to work the stone, they did so with great detail because the pieces were dedicated to their deities.
Because of its characteristic green color, it was associated with life, fertility and power. In addition, it symbolized the most valuable resources in agriculture: water and corn. For this reason, it was related to agricultural fertility. However, the Maya used jade in various ways: for therapeutic purposes, as it was considered to be able to cure any disease; in making utensils for daily life such as knives, bowls, among others; in ornaments, and in funerals and rituals.
Regarding the funeral, nobles and royals were buried with multiple accessories fashioned from jade as bracelets, necklaces, statues and tools, besides covering their faces with masks carved in the stone and placing a piece of the gem in the mouth to ensure their way to heaven and that their hierarchy was recognized even after death.
The Mayan civilization linked jade with the origin of the universe or everything that exists, because according to their mythology, the god of corn placed three jade stones during the foundation of the world, so in the royal burials it is also common to find ceramics with three jade stones.
The warriors who guarded the most sacred places covered their chest with jade pectoral. A Mayan leader could have anklets, earrings, necklaces and bracelets made of this material. They even decorated temples and pyramids with images of the god of corn and cobs carved in jade.
Nowadays, museums expose several Mayan pieces made of jade, found in various excavations that were made to understand the mystical past of this culture.
ALFA