The most beautiful Maya architectural masks to stand the test of time

From the pyramids at Calakmul to the palace complexes in Uxmal or the ballcourt at Chichén Itzá — the grandeur of Maya archaeological sites — is lost on no one.

But despite the awe these formidable examples of ancient architecture inspire, sometimes it’s essential to get close, zoom in, and appreciate the details.

Some of the most iconic elements found decorating Maya architecture include the stone mosaic, stucco, or relief-style masks that adorn temples on countless structures.

The degree of conservation of ancient architectural masks in Mesoamerica depends on many factors, the most important of which is luck. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Though well-preserved masks of this ilk have become relatively rare with the passing of centuries and millennia, with the help of art restorers and archaeologists, some do remain.

In this article, we will limit ourselves to masks incorporated into architecture; thus, other wonderful artifacts like funerary masks or depictions on stelae will have to be left for another time.

Kinich Ahau, the mighty god of the sun

Anyone who has ever visited Kohunlich knows the main attraction can be found on the facade of the Temple of the Masks, dedicated to Kinich Ahau — whose visage adorns its stairway not one or two but six times.

Though some of Kinich Ahau’s masks are in better shape than others, they are all remarkable and retain a good amount of their original color. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Similar Masks of Kinich Ahau can be found at several other sites, including Acanceh, just under 30 minutes from Mérida. Here, several masks can also be found, though most of them are in nowhere as good condition as in Kohunlich. However, they are still an absolute gem.

The masks depicting Kinich Ahau are atop a pyramid in downtown Acanceh, protected from the elements by a metal roof. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Other spelling masks depicting Kinich Ahau, though in an entirely different style, can be found in Edzná in the state of Campeche. The two surviving masks are of a similar design and survived so well because the Maya seemingly buried them long ago during a redesign of the temple where they are found, which was quite a common practice.

The amount of detail and color still visible on the masks in Edzná is among the most impressive in the Maya world. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht

Yuum Chaac, the bringer of rain and thunder

Depictions of Yuum (Lord) Chaac are found across the Maya world but are most plentiful in the Puuc region of Yucatán.

Stone Masks of Yuum Chaac adorn hundreds of structures across the Puuc. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

It is fair to speculate that worship of the rain god Yuum Chaac is so prevalent in the Puuc that cenotes and other water sources in the region are scarce.

The most extreme example of Yuum Chaac masks for decorative use is found on Kabah’s Codz Pop, which is covered with over 100 still-in-place stone masks. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

An interesting aspect of Yuum Chaac stone masks is that although similar from site to site, important differences exist among them. These include the upward or downward direction of the nose, size, sharpness of the teeth, and the configuration of earrings, feathered crowns and other regalia.

A huge stone mask of Yuum Chaac in Labná, Yucatán. Notice the carvings on the nose. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Monster of the Earth Facades

Monster of the Earth facades are symbolic gateways between the realm of the underworld, known to the ancient Maya as Xibalba. They are one of the hallmarks of Chenes architecture but can be found across several other architectural regions, including Río Bec and even the Maya Lowlands.

A detail of a Monster of the Earth facade in Chicanná, Campeche. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Though variations exist, the template of these temple facades follows a similar pattern featuring large teeth above and below the main entrance, designed to resemble an open maw, stark eyes, and plentiful mosaics or stucco sculptures.

One of the most beautiful, but also remote, examples of a Monster of the Earth facade in El Homiguero, Campeche. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

One of the most iconic examples of the Monster of the Earth facade style can be found In Ek Balam. In this case, the mask repeated on both sides of the site’s main temple is covered entirely in stucco and features images of great kings sitting confidently upon it.

The Monster of Earth entrance facades are on either side of the main stairway leading to the top of the Acropolis in Ek Balam, though the one on the left-hand side is in a much better state of conservation. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine.

The monster of the earth is generally not understood as a deity per se, but rather an anthropomorphic/zoomorphic representation of Xibalba or the underworld itself — though sometimes symbolic associations with gods likeItzamná, Kikukán, or Chaac are plain to see.

El Relieve de Placeres

This artwork, dating from the age of the classic Maya in Campeche, adorned a temple in Campeche before it was pillaged roughly 60 years ago.

The Friso de Placeres, after its restoration, was completed in late 2022. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

The massive frieze weighs eight tons and is over 25 feet tall, though the identity of the central figure depicted is still up for debate. Because of its great size and the fact that it had been dismantled, archaeologists decided it would not be viable to reinstall it at the site it was illegally pillaged from and thus mounted it in México City’s National Museum of Anthropology.

The Friso de Placeres, or Frieze of Pleasures, before its most recent round of restoration. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

It’s important to note that the frieze’s restoration was completed by some of Mexico’s most renowned art restorers, directed by González García. They used advanced techniques to bring out the existing natural pigments back to the surface.

Great Lords and Kings

Unsurprisingly, the kings (Ajaw) chose to immortalize their image in temples constructed during their reign. Though these images are usually in the form of large stone reliefs or stelae, what we would call examples of masks do exist.

Stone rendering of an unknown lord, perhaps of the Yax Kuk Mo dynasty, adorns a temple in Copán, Honduras. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

Water Lily Serpent iconography is sometimes suggested to have its origin with an actual Queen in El Caracol, but like the Monster of the Earth, it is sometimes considered to be some sort of primordial entity. Regardless, Water Lily Serpent headdresses became common during the Kanu’l dynasty and are closely associated with this line.

A stone relief of a Water Lily Serpent adorns the main staircase of a massive pyramid at the remote archaeological site of El Caracol. Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine

On the topic of Maya Queens, there is no more exciting case than that of Lady 6 Sky (also known as Wak Chanil Ajaw) of El Naranjo. Though she began her rule as a regency, Lady 6 Sky ascended to the rank of Ahaw in her own right in the year 639 C.E.