Urn with jaguars and skulls: A 1,400-year-old burial container depicting a deceased ruler's arrival to the Maya underworld
Archaeologists have analyzed a 1,400-year-old Maya burial urn from Guatemala that depicts a deceased ruler dressed as a jaguar entering the underworld. The artifact, gifted to The Walters Art Museum, provides insights into ancient Maya funerary practices and religious symbolism.
Why it matters
This discovery enhances our understanding of ancient Mesoamerican death rituals and the cultural significance of the jaguar in Maya cosmology.
This 1,400-year-old Maya urn features skulls, underworld gods, and a deceased ancestor dressed like a jaguar.
By Kristina Killgrove Edited by Laura Geggel , Laura Mondrag n Published 5 October 2026 In Features 2 min read When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
This burial urn depicts a person, accompanied by skulls, as they are received into the Maya underworld. (Image credit: The Walters Art Museum; ( CC0 1.0 Universal )) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter
This burial urn depicts a person, accompanied by skulls, as they are received into the Maya underworld.
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