Maya Mythology, Cosmology and Art

The Maya expressed their deep beliefs through their myths, through their religion, and through their creative artworks. The Maya cosmos was composed of the Underworld, the Earth or Middle World and the Upperworld; these three realms became materialized in depictions of their art and architecture. Innumerable complicated symbols with myriad meanings were utilized to express and illustrate their ancient myths and religious convictions. Each god, animal, color and symbol had multiple meanings. Astronomy is very often a fundamental component in the Maya religious beliefs.