This is the Maya Stela number 16 found in Tikal, Guatemala. The text in the top left indicates the time when the stela was made which says December 5, 711. This was an important ending date for the Mayans in that they switched over the calendar to the new year. The name of the ruler (Jasaw) depicted on this stone is located on the cartouches on the bottom. On the top of the leaders head there is a headdress with a skull mask which probably represents a deity that the ruler was impersonating for the ceremony. The rulers head peers out from all of his finery with large jade earpools and a long bar or nose ornament that reaches out in front of his face. On the rulers back there is a backrack with feathers on them, the feathers most likely came from the quetzal bird. The necklaces around his neck were made of jade and bone, this whole costume was to show off his wealth and power. The ruler also wears a bealt decorated with three jade masks, one in the middle and two profile style on the hips.

This is the portrait of Pakal the Great from Pakal’s tomb from the 7th century CE. The height of the statue is almost 17 inches and was found with Pakal’s sarcophagus. On his head he is wearing a diadem of jade and flowers which represents his importance. The skull is elongated because of a type of baby head binding they did in order to achieve the ideal shape. There are traces of pigment on the statue indicating that this statue was painted which is characteristic of Mayan sculptures.

Feathers and jade were the most important materials in mesoamerica so the display of feathers and jade in both of the statues was a show of wealth and power. The stela was a celebratory piece of art while the portrait of Pakal is for Pakal’s burial. In both of these they were shown with great power due to what they wore and how they were shown.