PXL_20250420_160949256

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:49:22 +0100

TEMPLE OF THE FIGURE HEADS

This building is made up by two
overlapping constructions, one older than
the other. The oldest is decorated with two
Figure Heads at the sides of the main
staircase. The west large hideous mask
represents the sun deity K'inich, while the
one at the east shows god Pax, a
supernatural inhabitant of the celestial
realm. The construction belongs to the
Early Classic (250-600 A.D.)

The Sun, considered a god, was conceived
with human features, and was also
ornamented with nose ornaments and
dental modifications. It is interesting that
the blue green of the earmuffs represents
the color of jadeite, a precious mineral.
Likewise, the black color of the eyes
emphasizes the character's strabismus. All
these features, the same as the face
painting, were considered to have a high
aesthetic and hierarchical value.