Museo Popol Vuh
Established | 1978 |
---|---|
Location | Universidad Francisco Marroquín, 6 Calle Fina, Zona 10, Guatemala 01010 (502) 2338-7896 |
Type | Maya archaeology-Colonial art Museum |
Founder | Jorge and Ella Castillo |
Website | www |
The Museo Popol Vuh (Popol Vuh
The Popol Vuh Museum is a private, nonprofit, scientific institution supported by its own funds and external donations. The museum is operated by a board of directors of citizens of Guatemala interested in the preservation and public display of the exhibits. One of its missions is to provide an educational focus for people who want to see and learn about the pre-Columbian past of Guatemala with the preservation, research, and diffusion of information.[1]
Although the museum is well known for its funerary ceramic art, the collection includes a variety of portable stone sculptures, especially from the Preclassic period, and from the coast and adjacent highlands. The section on Maya pottery includes some of the best preserved Maya vases and bowls.[2]
History
The origin of the museum dates back to 1975, when Mr. Jorge Castillo hired Maro Tejada, a student of archaeology at la Universidad del Valle, to classify his extensive collection. After it was classified and set up for display in chronological order and it was opened up to the public in zone 1. After Mr.Castillo died in 1977, he decided to donate the collection to the Universidad Francisco Marroquín. The museum was created originally in 1977 to house the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Castillo and now forms part of a beautiful architectural complex of the Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala City. Jorge and Ella Castillo donated most of their collection of archaeological and colonial pieces in 1978 which are the basis of the Popol Vuh Museum today. They began their private collection of archaeological and colonial objects years before they established founding in 1977. The first location was in La Reforma Ave and 16th street, Guatemala City, but later moved to the Galerias Reforma building in Zone 9 in Guatemala City after three years. Sixteen years later, it was moved to Zone 10, where it stands today.
The museum is named after the
Buildings and facilities
The Museo Popol Vuh is one of the most modern of all the museums in Guatemala in terms of physical facilities. It has a very geometric architectural style opposed to the Mayan ruins and renaissance styles erected by the Spanish in Guatemala City. The museum has its preservations behind clear walls with advanced technology of display. The inside walls maintain neutral colors to keep focus on the artifacts.
The Popol Vuh Museum is located on the campus of
The museum offers guided tours of each gallery along with workshops such as archaeological excavation, restoration activities, Mayan pottery creation, etc. Presentations, lectures, and courses are organized throughout the year to educate the community of the Mayan culture in the Guatemalan heritage.
Collections and holdings
The exhibit galleries are organized chronologically beginning with the
Paleoindian (15,000 – 9000 BC): The oldest object in the Museum, which dates back to 9000 BC, is a
Archaic (9000 – 1500 BC): Most of the art found from the
Preclassic (1500 BC – 250 AD): Popular material found in artifacts during the Preclassic period involves ceramic, jade, and stone, much of which was traded with the Olmecs in the southern coast. The most notable site where most objects were found is the Kaminaljuyu in the valley of Guatemala, which became popular for its irrigation canal system and its great buildings.[1] The scale of their development reflected the status, power, and wealth of the chiefs of Kaminaljuyu. Many of the oldest examples of hieroglyphic texts are from Guatemala from this rich site. Exhibits from this era include ceramics from the Middle and Late Preclassic era from the Kaminaljuyu and southern coast.[1]
Early Classic (250–600): During this period,
Late Classic (600 – 900): This period is known for the greatest exponential growth of population in the northern lowlands.[1] The Mayan hieroglyphic texts excavated from this region were advanced, indicating a great level of complex interaction between cities and their political leaders. Exhibits include painted ceramic art of several regional styles depicting mythology, religion with god like figures containing hieroglyphic texts, and often indicating the owner of the piece and the artist.[1]
Postclassic (900 – 1,500): This era is registered as the decline of the
Colonial Period (1500 – 19th century): The colonial period followed the
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Museo Popol Vuh, Universidad Francisco Marroqín, Guatemala". Archived from the original on 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
- ^ a b "Maya art".
- ^ "Southeast Archeological Center (U.S. National Park Service)".
- ^ "Guatemala city Sights - Popol Vuh". www.world66.com. Archived from the original on 2005-05-18.
References
- Wagner, Elisabeth (2006). "Selected Collections and Museums". In OCLC 71165439.
External links
- Museo Popol Vuh, official website (in Spanish)
- Discussion of Ruler’s “3-11-Pik” title in Early Classic Naranjo Altar 1 in the Museo, in downloadable Part I