Exuding the power of Maya mysticism, this hand-carved mask represents a jaguar with an ornate crest and eyes. It replicates a rescued sculpture whose origin is thought to be from the western part of El Salvador. Conscious of the environment, the Jaguar Archeological Project only uses branches and does not cut down trees. Throughout El Salvador there have been found images depicting the jaguar with a crest, big mouth and fangs, as well as an inverted u shaped nostrils and swirling eyes. Known as Balam or Chac, according to Maya cosmogony the jaguar represents nature’s elements: water, earth, fire, and air. Maya shamans, priests and rulers used the jaguar as a symbol of authority and leadership. The upper part of the head usually represents life elements, and the lower part connotes a skeleton. Jaguar masks are believed to represent the transformation of a human into a being with magical powers.
