A study of elite costume and emblem in Classic Maya art

Monumental art of the Classic Maya well documents the importance and grandeur of the members of Maya society celebrated on those monuments. However, Classic Maya monumental art, primarily stone sculpture, does not celebrate the individuality of the individuals depicted, but rather presents political portraits of rulers garbed in traditional costume and emblem as the primary visual concern.;In the course of depicting high status persons of Maya society, elements of paraphernalia corresponding to status and identity are not randomly depicted, but rather occur in meaningful complexes of costume and held objects. The documentation of these items of costume and paraphernalia the focus of this study. With this objective, this study is properly termed a pre-iconographical analysis, following the analytical levels established by Panofsky for the iconographical description of works of art.;The identification of the composition of Classic Maya elite costume and held objects indicates that the elements which make up formal costume occur in relatively predictable complexes, which are remarkably stable over time for most items. Earliest examples of Maya monumental art are extremely refined and vigorous, and reflect an early period of diversity and refinement, a period prior to that normally of diversity and refinement, a period-prior to that normally termed "Classic".;Observations on materials used and construction of costuming is noted when possible, as is regional preference and temporal frame of occurrence.