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11"x17"paper, pencil, ruler

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How to set up paper for Mayan City Drawing

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Find meaningful symbols here, then create different patterns around your border. You could also do your own Google search and find a traditional Mayan pattern that you like!

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Trama Textiles | Women's Weaving Cooperative

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"Long ago, the people of the rainy, mountainous region of Verapaz were trembling from the cold because they did not have clothes. From the heavens, the goddess Itzam saw their suffering and came down to Earth. She visited a woman in her house and tried to teach her how to weave, but the woman simply did not understand. Just as the goddess was about to give up, she saw a spider weaving its web. The deity told the woman to watch how the spider worked, and thanks to this demonstration the woman captured the essence of weaving."

Various versions of this myth exist throughout the western highlands of Guatemala, but its essential message remains the same: nature is a constant source of inspiration for weavers and the Mayan people as a whole.

While some of the original meanings of the symbols used in Guatemalan weaving have been lost, many of them still hold significance for Mayan communities - particularly those relating to good, evil, fertility and agriculture.
Symbols and Their Meanings
Bats are the guardians of the Underworld. They're considered suspicious creatures, rich in dualities. The bat is worshipped for its rule over the darkness, and is a powerful sign to mark against enemies. The Mayans drew a very faint line between our concepts of good and evil: they were seen in unison, rather than separation, and the bat is also revered for its representation of this unison.

The butterfly, with its wings spread, represents freedom. This freedom is sometimes compared with that of the weaver, with her ability to weave wild stories into her textiles. The white butterfly indicates good news and positivity, while the black represents negativity, pain and tragedy. If a black butterfly enters a Mayan home, it is caught and burned to rid the house of the bad luck. Green butterflies are symbols of hope and are welcomed into homes as omens of good health if a family member is sick.

The cross has ties to both Mayan and Christian religion. The four points represent the four directions of the winds, which give life to crops and mankind. The Mayan cross is made from the four types of corn - white, yellow, red, and black - which represent the parts of the human body. The cross also signifies the dawn, the darkness, the water, and the air. This symbol demonstrates the importance of the energies that come from each extreme of the earth.

Corn is a particularly important symbol in in Guatemalan textiles. Mayan mythology tells that for the creation of the human being, white corn was used for the bones, yellow corn for the muscles, black corn for the eyes and hair, and red corn for the blood. For this reason, corn is not just considered a source of food in rural areas: it's also part of the ancestral, ceremonial traditions.

The cup symbolises the importance of sharing with others. In modern Guatemala, this symbol has becom a fusion of Mayan and Christian beliefs. It is sometimes understood as the cup Jesus shared with the disciples during the last supper.

The diamond is one of the most important symbols, and can be found in most of Trama's products. It symbolises the arms of the weaver, with her body at the bottom, and her textiles at the top.

Deer are considered a symbol of strong, stable, regal energy by the Maya. They represent all of the animal kingdom. Deer also encompass the four levels of being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The energies of the deer also signify the binding forces between an individual and their family.

Dolls represent the connection between women, Mother Earth, and Ixchel, who is the goddess of medicine, midwifery, the moon, and weaving.

Doves are the Queens of the Heavens. These feminine birds provide nourishment for the Mayan people and renew the fruits of life.

The ancient people understood the eagle's calls as a warning that an earthquake or storm was on its way. In ancient Mayan mythology, one face of the double headed eagle represents good and the other represents evil. The creature itself represents contemplative thought. When focused upon, this symbol assists in accessing inner wisdom and facilitates focus. Eagles have also traditionally been a symbol of community and cooperative unity within a diverse group. However, the meaning of the eagle changed during the Spanish conquest since it was featured on the coat of arms of Charles V, who was the ruler of the Spanish empire at the time. For the indigenous population, the eagle can therefore also represent a cruel, unforgiving, and unfamiliar being.

The flower motifs used in weaving are usually the native flowers of Guatemala, like roses, lilies, violas, pansies, gladioli, and cactus flowers. All of these flowers bloom abundantly throughout the year. The Mayans view flowers as symbols of life and fertility.

The inup is the Tree of Life, which represents the life of man - birth, growth, reproduction and death. It also indicates love, as shown in the union between the two people who make up the two parts of the tree. The fruits represent their offspring. Many sacred rites are performed under the branches of these trees.

Mayan Gods are frequently depicted with jaguar attributes. The jaguar is said to have the ability to cross between worlds, as represented by daytime and nighttime. The world of the living and the earth are associated with the day, while and the spirit world and the ancestors are associated with the night.

The lion is often woven by young women to demonstrate a desire to be courted. As the king of the jungle, the lion symbol is a keeper of goods, wealth, and good luck. Sometimes the lion is read as a representation of anger, and is therefore never used in huipils that are worn during happy events.

In Mayan mythology, the owl is a symbol of death and destruction. These nocturnal birds of prey are the mysterious messengers of dark powers. For the Quiche people, the owl's hoot is an omen of death.

The pitcher symbolises the head of a woman, from which her wonderful ideas for patterns and color combinations in textiles are poured.

The quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala, and one of the most important textile symbols, often present in traditional clothing. In a number of modern Mayan dialects, the name means 'treasured' or 'sacred'. Legend has it that long ago, the Quetzal would sing beautifully, but has been silent since the Spanish conquest. The red chest is representative of the blood spilled while the Mayan people tried to protect themselves and their land.

The rooster, like the turkey, is associated with marriage. In some Mayan communities, proposals are accompanied by the groom's family presenting the potential bride's family with between one and three roosters, depending on how they regard their prospective daughter-in-law. Those who receive three roosters can feel proud that the mother-in-law is pleased with the union.

The serpent appears frequently in Mayan textiles as a representation of the representing the god Gucumatz, the creator of the world. This zigzag design can also signify mountains, which provide clean air and protection from sickness.

The sun represents the radiant energy that contributes to the motion of the universe. It's also symbolic of the god of corn, to whom the Maya pray to ensure a good harvest.

Turkeys often tell the stories of weddings. The turkey represents a proposal. Once a Mayan couple are engaged, the groom's family will spend the next two years fattening up a turkey until the day of the wedding. The groom then presents the dead turkey to the parents of his soon-to-be bride. If the groom is rich enough, he will also give the bride's family bread and money.

The colours used in Mayan weaving also have their own significance. Red, black, white and yellow represent the four types of corn, and by extension, the four different elements of the body (red for blood, black for eyes and hair, white for bones and yellow for muscles) and the four directions of the winds: red for east, black for west, white for north and yellow for south.

These symbols and colors are often used in the work produced by the Trama weavers, so keep an eye out for them in our online shop and our tienda!

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"Long ago, the people of the rainy, mountainous region of Verapaz were trembling from the cold because they did not have clothes. From the heavens, the goddess Itzam saw their suffering and came down to Earth. She visited a woman in her house and tried to teach her how to weave, but the woman simply did not understand.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz.  You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz.  You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz. You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz.  You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz. You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz. You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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After viewing the reading or the slideshow, take the quiz. You can only take the quiz ONCE, so be thoughtful. Once you submit the quiz, you will get your drawing instructions.

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Gods & Spirits Drawing Instructions:
Pick one Maya God or Goddess (consult the link below), draw their image, and label their name, in the top right hand square of your drawing.
https://www.gods-and-goddesses.com/mayan/

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1. Read/listen to one section
2. Take quiz
3. Draw that portion according to drawing instructions
REPEAT above for all 7 sections.

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Trade Drawing Instructions:
1. Draw narrow roads connecting the cluster of homes to the city center. Make sure all your roads are made of giant stones fitting together like puzzle pieces.
2. Draw roads connecting city buildings to the pyramid.

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WHAT TO DRAW and where to draw it:

Palace, City Building, Noble’s Home1. In the center of your drawing, draw one Palace2. Draw one City Building3. Draw a Noble’s Home

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Mayan City- Student Samples - Google Docs

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WHAT TO DRAW and where to draw it:

Farming1. In one corner, draw Slash and Burn techniques. See p380 in your textbook.2. In another corner, draw Terraces on a hillside. See p288 in your textbook.3. In the third corner, draw Raised Fields on lowland swamps. See p386 in your textbook.

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WHAT TO DRAW and where to draw it:

Pyramids1. In the center of your drawing, draw one pyramid. Model yours after the photo on p370. 2. Be sure to include the staircase up the side, and the structure at the top where ceremonies were performed!

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7Spirits&Religion - Mayan City Texts Read Aloud

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WHAT TO DRAW and where to draw it:

Homes of the Working Classes1. Include in your drawing: 2-3 clusters of houses-and-courtyards near the farming areas. 2. Please see p376 in your textbook for a good picture.

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5BallCourts - Mayan City Texts Read Aloud

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2HomesOfTheWorkingClasses - Mayan City Project