The ancient Mayans, who lived in parts of present-day Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, created one of the most complex and advanced civilizations in the Western Hemisphere. The Mayans accomplished many remarkable and influential achievements, most notably, in art, astronomy, and engineering. The achievements of the Mayans influenced the cultures around them and are still influential today. The Mayans created amazingly sophisticated works of art. The art of the Mayans has been called the richest in the New World because of the great complexity of the patterns and variety of the media used. Mayan art had a distinctive style that was influenced by the Olmec civilization. Mayan art forms included painting on paper and plaster, carvings in wood and stone, clay and stucco models, and terra cotta figurines from molds. The Mayans are well known for their use of stucco, jade, and obsidian. Maya buildings were adorned with carved friezes and roof combs in stone and stucco. The Mayans painted colorful murals depicting gods and other mythological figures on the walls of their houses. Mayan ceramics were made in a wide variety of forms and decorated with complicated scenes. The Mayans also designed artwork from flint, bone and shell, and made decorated cotton textiles. The Mayans were …show more content…
Mayan art influences some modern graphic designs. Also, a misinterpretation of the Mayan calendars caused many people to believe that the world would end on December 21, 2012. Mayan architecture is a major touristic attraction today. The ancient Mayan civilization influenced modern society in another way, too. They invented hot chocolate, which is still a popular drink today. The English word 'chocolate' comes from the Mayan word for chocolate, 'xocolatl'. The ancient Mayans excelled in the areas of art, astronomy and engineering, and their achievements are still influential