Skip to main content
Object Number
92-50-20/C1122.9
Display Title
Cast of part of temple facade, skyband, House of the Governors
Descriptions
Object Description
Cast of skyband - House of the governors - Uxmal. One of 14 separate casts. Uxmal, Temple facade Maya, circa A.D. 900 Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico This layered "celestial band" is the centerpiece of the elaborately decorated facade of the House of the Governor at Uxmal, one of the largest and best-preserved buildings of the Maya area. It once formed the backdrop of a sculpted image of an enthroned ruler and symbolized his place in the cosmic realm. Numerous symbols join to form each horizontal band, referring to heavenly bodies such as "sun" and "star." The skyband glyphs may record astronomical data that was important for setting the orientation of the building to reflect the movements of celestial bodies such as Venus. Similar mosaic stonework adorned many temples and pa[see Object Description text entry for extended description]
Inventory Description
Cast of skyband, House of the Governors, Uxmal. One of 14 separate casts.
Cast Name
UXM_House_Gov_skyband_9
Classification
- Cast
- Raw Material
Department
Archaeological
Date
circa A.D. 900
Culture
- Maya
Geography/Provenience/Site Name
Central America
/
Mexico
/
Yucatan
/
<County>
/
<City>
/
Uxmal
Intrasite
On front of "Governor's Palace" at Uxmal
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Burlap, Pigment
Dimensions
Overall: 25.4 x 76.2 x 4 cm (10 x 30 x 1 9/16 in.)
Quantity
1
Important Note about Historical Language
Collections records may contain language, reflecting past collecting practices and methods of analysis, that is no longer acceptable. The Peabody Museum is committed to addressing the problem of offensive and discriminatory language present in its database. Our museum staff are continually updating these records, adding to and improving content. We welcome your feedback and any questions or concerns you may want to share. Please email us with your comments.