MAYAN clothes and weaving : mayan kids interactive

Book Store

The Maya Indians to weave and embroider some of the same design motifs that have been popular since the Classic period (AD 150-900). Images on ceramics, lintels, stelae, and wall murals show designs used in textiles. Most design ideas come from natural surroundings including hills or snakes, flowers and wildlife. On the walls on Bonampak, a dignitary is shown wearing a tunic of this design. His clothes includes jade ear spools, a jade necklace with medallions, and jaguar skin around his hair. Sky Band The sky band is a long band composed of a series of rectangles representing celestial bodies. The ancient Maya used this symbol to act as bases, platforms, or thrones on Codex tyle vases.
Toads Toads are common in Maya design. They are associated with rain and fertility. In the Lowlands, the coming of rain is announced by the toads and their croaking sound. The toad sings at the mouth of the Earthlord's mountain cave. The Earthlord's daughters fluff cotton which will be transformed by a bolt of lightning into rain clouds. Toads are believed to be the guardians of the rain god's cave
Diamond/Universe/4 Corners The diamond shaped design may be the most common. It is simple to weave and embroider. The shape of the diamond represents the four corners of the Maya world. Each corner represents one of the four cardinal directions: east, north, west, and south. Inside the center is another smaller diamond or geometric shape that represents the sun.
Crosses XX's Crosses represent the four corners of the earth North, South, East and West. It represents the world tree with its branches and roots through the layers of the universe. In many modern Maya villages, the cross contains protective powers and is placed at crossroads or at sacred areas of the natural landscape Zig Zag The Zig Zag symbolize "cerritos," little hills lukol, "squiggly," or be chon, "path of the snake"