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Death of Pedro de Alvarado
A scene from the 16th-century Codex Telleriano-Remensis showing the death of Pedro de Alvarado (c. 1485-1541), the Spanish conquistador who became the first governor of Guatemala in 1527. Alvarado was killed in Mexico when his horse fell...

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Maya Vessel with Dog Painting
Maya vessel depicting several mythological scenes. This part of the vessel depicts a god with a spotted tail and ears. The dog is a companion of death, and like his own has a dark nature. Found in Guatemala, attributed to the "Metropolitan...

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North Acropolis, Tikal
The North Acropolis of Tikal, Guatemala. The Maya city flourished between 300 and 850 CE but the acropolis was first built c. 250 BCE with many additions being made to it over the centuries. A total of 12 temples were built and used to bury...

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Maya Tripod Bowl
3-4th century CE, Guatemala, Mesoamerica. Metropolitan Museum of Art A favored vessel type of the Maya lowlands was one made in the shape of a tropical bird, perhaps a cormorant, in the act of catching a fish in its beak. The bird's forehead...

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Maya Warriors
A Maya vessel decorated with warrior figures. They are wearing animal headdresses and have trophy heads hanging from their belts. From Mexico or Guatemala, c. 600-800 CE. (Brooklyn Museum, New York)

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Maya Incense Burner
A Maya incense burner in the form of Itzamnaaj. The god wears a costume with feline headdress. Painted ceramic, c. 1200-1521, Peten, Guatemala (St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri)

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Maya Deity on Obsidian Flake
An obsidian flake from Tikal, Guatemala which has been incised with a representation of a Maya god. Height: 9 cm / 3.5 in. 250-900 CE. (British Museum, London)

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Coffee Plantation
Filadelfia Coffee Plantation, Guatemala.

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Classical Maya Incense Container
This painted incense container is made from cut stone and dates from c. 600-900 CE. Maya artisans created it in what is present-day Guatemala during the Classical era. (Musée du Cinquantenaire, Brussels)

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A Gallery of Maya Cities
The Maya Civilization flourished between 250-950 although it drew upon earlier civilizations such as that of the Olmecs (1500 - 200 BCE) and Zapotec (600 BCE - 800 CE) and lasted through the Post-Classic Period of 950-1524. The great cities...