Symbols of Power Held by elite maya Women. an Iconographic analysis of Feminine Ornaments.

Abstract

The study of Mayan art from a gender perspective is relatively recent, so, even though academic works that focus on the representation of the female figure are becoming more prevalent, there are still many outstanding issues to investigate. For this reason, in this article we return to the early works earmarked for reflection on this subject that have marked the foundation of future investigations before we delve into the subject at hand: how the ornaments, and more specifically those that are placed around the neck and chest, helped to build the image of power of ancient Mayan women. We analyse the most characteristic types worn by members of the elite and put them in context, in order to draw conclusions about the significance of them also being worn by the ladies of the court.