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In pla aut resci solore vellandi inciet facerro voloren ihilibus
the earth was filled with abundant food and drink and peopled with a wise and intelligent race of humans.
TO NOURISH AND SUSTAIN
Guatemala today is committed to maintaining a firm connection with its rich and storied past, particularly the complex, advanced civilization that was the Maya—a civilization that lives rooted among the Guatemalan people, who carry on its lan- guages and traditions. The nation and its neighbors are home to hundreds of archeological sites that have yielded thousands of Maya treasures. In an ambi- tious new project, Guatemala will bring these treasures together under one roof as a permanent monument to the great Maya empire—as the museum’s mission states, to “protect, preserve, display, and disseminate the Mayan cultural heri- tage.”
The new Museo Maya de América (MUMA) in Guatemala City is to be the fore- most museum of Maya archeology in the world, a center of education, and the leading institution in the conservation of Guatemala’s cultural heritage. It will house one of the world’s most significant collections of Maya objects, artifacts, artworks, and textiles in a stunning 600,000-square-foot building designed by local and international architects.
Sited at the northern edge of La Aurora Park, the museum will be immediately visible when entering Guatemala City’s international airport. It will become the capstone to a series of institutions, including the Children’s Museum and the Guatemalan Museum of Modern Art. This cultural nexus will provide a new desti- nation for tourists and residents alike.
THE MAGNIFICENT MAYA
Centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala, the Maya empire peaked in power and influence around the sixth century A.D. The only ancient cul- ture in America to develop writing, the Maya excelled at the arts and sciences and left behind astonishing cities, as well as signs of advanced farming techniques, long-lasting utilitarian tools, and objets d’art of enduring beauty.
Mysteriously, between the late eighth and late ninth centuries, Maya cities were abandoned and the society collapsed. Yet the innovation and creativity of this ancient realm are very much present in concepts and structures we recognize today: their remarkable calendar, a system of mathematics that independently invented the zero, astronomical studies, stunning palaces and pyramids, cenotes and aqueducts for safeguarding precious water, and beautiful decorative arts.
Today, the nation’s people maintain many of the Maya’s traditions and stories, and a vast array of Mayan languages ensures that these traditions will live on. Part of MUMA’s legacy will be to preserve these living traditions even as it honors the past. Other goals are to build a tradition of lifelong learning and to partner with local educational institutions. The museum’s philosophy is that only through knowledge can a people keep their culture alive; MUMA is dedicated to conserv- ing and spreading that knowledge to every Guatemalan.
EVOCATIVE ARCHITECTURE
A Maya temple, standing in the jungle, covered with vines—that indelible image speaks of a great civilization. The new museum, with an estimated cost of US $75 million, is inspired by the architecture of these temples while incorporating the features of a state-of-the-art museum facility.
Crouching Jaguar Dancer. South West of Lake Petén Itzá. Classic period. © Fundación La Ruta Maya collection. (Reg No.1.2.1.299)
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