The symbolism of jade for the Mayans and other peoples of Mesoamerica is little known. However, it has been the subject of innumerable discussions between academics and scholars of these civilizations, who have shown –and thus express it– special interest in the singular meaning that the Mayans, Toltecs, Olmecs, Mexica, among others, gave to this stone.
Jade is formed by great underground pressure and rises to the surface due to the movement of tectonic plates. The presence of different minerals provide the variety of colors with which it is known. Nevertheless, the most common and appreciated by the Mayans was the semi-transparent water green known as imperial jade.
In the Sierra de Las Minas, where the Motagua fault is located, are the largest sources of jade in Guatemala, from where it was obtained and distributed to all Mesoamerican cultures. For this reasonthe Mayans had a monopoly on jade and all their rulers and members of the elite used it.
For the Mayans, jade was more valuable than gold. Its extreme hardness allows it to endure immutable over time, so he was associated with eternity and immortality. And although it took them years, even generations, to work the stone, they did it in great detail because the pieces were dedicated to their deities.
Due to its characteristic green color it was associated with life, fertility and power. In addition, it symbolized the most valuable resources for agriculture: water and corn. For this reason, it was related to agricultural fertility. Nevertheless, The Mayans used jade in various ways: for therapeutic purposes, as it was considered capable of curing any disease; in the manufacture of utensils for everyday life such as knives, bowls, among others; in ornaments, and in funerals and rituals.
Regarding funeralsthe nobles or members of the royalty were buried accompanied by multiple accessories made with jade such as bracelets, necklaces, statues and tools, in addition to covering their faces with masks carved in this stone and placing a piece of the gem inside their mouths to ensure their ascent to heaven and that their hierarchy would be recognized even after death.
The Mayan civilization linked jade with the origin of the universe or everything that existsbecause according to their mythology, the god of corn placed three jade stones during the foundation of the world, so it is also common to find ceramics with three jade stones in royal burials.
The warriors who guarded the most sacred places covered their chests with jade pectorals. A Mayan leader could count on anklets, earmuffs, necklaces and bracelets made of this material. They even decorated temples and pyramids with images of the maize god and corncobs carved in jade.
Currently, various Mayan pieces made of jade, found in the different excavations that have been carried out to learn about the mystical past of this culture, are exhibited in museums.