mi: M \v\\ CIVILIZATION 



s:i 



Maya- were superior to the Egyptians and Assyrians. 

 They could draw the human body in pure profile and in 

 free and graceful attitudes and they could compose 

 several figures in a rectangular panel so that the result 

 satisfies t he eye of a modern art [si . 



Hut. unfortunately for our fuller understanding, the 

 human form had only a minor interesl because the gods 

 were not in the image of man and the art was essenl ially 



Fig. 2.">. Typical Elaborated Serpents of the Mayas. The plumed 



Serpent i- from Chichen Itea and the one with a human head in its 

 mouth from Yaxrhilan. In this example the writhing movements of 

 theserjN'iiT's tail arc probably intended by the added scrolls. 



religion-. The gods were at best half human and half 

 animal with grotesque elaborations. The high esthetic 

 qualities were therefore wasted on subjects that appeal- 

 trivial to many of us. But, as we break away more and 

 more from the -hackles of our own artistic conventions, 

 -hall be able to appreciate the many beauties of 

 ancient American sculpture 



