The Maya Sculptor

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THE MAYA SCULPTOR. (From a Painting by George M. Ottinger.)

THE MAYA SCULPTOR. With respect to the artistic merit of the monuments of

Yucatan, and their status in comparison with the works of

the ancient Greeks, Romans and other old-world peoples, it

would be far from favorable; yet, they are most wonderful

when we consider that the handiwork of those old artists,

original in design and motive, workman-like in finish and

execution, was chiseled by men who had no knowledge of

iron or any metal. Their stone implements were porphyry,

and the material out of which the ancient artists of that

region cut their basso-relievos and monoliths, was a soft

coralline limestone, on which such a tool as porphyry

would be almost as effective as one of steel.

In some of the ruins of the old cities, especially at Copan,

there are clusters of square stone pillars or obelisks varying

from twelve to twenty feet high. They are elaborately

sculptured, showing human figures, ornamental designs and

hieroglyphic inscriptions on their sides. The picture repre-

sents a Maya sculptor, elevated on his scaffolding, labo-

riously and patiently working out his conception of a dei-

fied king or hero, which evidently these monoliths per-

sonify.

GEORGE M. OTTINGER.