Maya sculpture of Copán

Copan, one of the most important Classic Maya sites, is renowned for the artistry of its high-relief stelae and altars and for the wealth of detail on its freestanding and architectural sculpture. In Maya Sculpture of Copan: The Iconography, internationally known Mayanist Claude-Francois Baudez provides the first comprehensive analysis of these elaborate and intriguing carved images. Part I is a description of the specific motifs on each monument. Baudez identifies and deciphers the individual elements and shows how they were combined to produce meaningful iconographic messages. The architectural sculpture is shown to express the meaning and function of the buildings and complexes, many of which were designed to represent the sky, earth, and underworld and served as stages for rituals. Photographs and drawings augment the textual descriptions, clarifying the intricate forms. Part II is a synthesis of the major themes of the iconography, most of which relate to the religion and politics of the city-state. Baudez traces the evolution of the motifs in relation to the history of Copan. The complex nature of kingship - the multiple functions and responsibilities of the king, his cosmic role, the continuous reference to his ancestors, and the dynastic cycles - is a significant theme. The iconography of sacrifice - both autosacrificial bloodletting by the king and sacrifice of captives - is of paramount importance. Growth and rebirth required constant offerings of blood, to the earth and especially to the sun, to ensure its rebirth at dawn after its nocturnal journey through the underworld. The monuments give a coherent picture of Maya cosmology, with an emphasis on images relating to the earth. This masterful survey of the iconography of one of the most famous Maya sites is a major contribution to Mesoamerican studies, of interest to archaeologists, anthropologists, and art historians as well as nonspecialists who want to learn more about this fascinating civilization.