The display entitled “Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art” includes pieces from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, ranging from rarely seen objects to others recently discovered.

In addition, it intends to explore the relationship the Mayas had with their divinities, its curator Oswaldo Chinchilla said.

According to what the Guatemalan academic told reporters, the deities painted or carved in those pieces could be terrifying, but they could also be tender.

The MET was one of the first museums that created a special wing for pre-Hispanic art.

This exhibition reflects the growing trend of its ‘appreciation as an artistic manifestation on a par with European art,’ he stressed.

The exhibition consists of several sections: Creations (focused on mythological episodes related to the creation of the world), Day, Night, Rain, Corn, Knowledge, and, finally, Patron Gods, with works depicting kings and queens adopting attributes from the gods.

The Kimbell Art Museum in Texas will put the Mayan masterpieces on display after exhibiting at the MET.

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