I recently took a trip to a museum in Merida, whose name translates to ‘The Great Museum of the Mayan World of Mérida’. It is a museum all about the Mayans, which are the indigenous people of this region in Mexico.
The museum is in this huge round building that looked as if it were covered in giant green rubber bands.
Inside there was some art of a Mayan family and some animals. I liked it a lot. I believe the blue found abundantly in the painting was Maya blue, a shade of blue the Mayans invented themselves from clay and plant dye! (I spent a lot of time researching shades of Blue for the Blue family, which are some of the main characters in my novel Shook. The novel is being posted on Hive in segments, and further information about it is written at the bottom of the article!)
Inside there were stairs, escalators, and elevators leading up, down, and around the building. My family and I actually got lost trying to find the ticket booth and entrance to the museum part of the establishment!
Upstairs was a long food counter and some tables. My brother was frightened by how high up we were.
Once we finally got into the museum, I was wowed by the Mayan statues and paintings that were inside.
There was an altar and some outfits on display. I loved the dress in the middle with the colorful designs!
From reading the signs near the pictures and statues, I learned the Mayans occupied the lower region of Mexico and some of Central America since at least 3,000 years ago. At some point they were colonized and enslaved and a new culture and religion was introduced to them. The Mayans aren't gone though, and lots of people in this region speak Maya Yucateco. Some places around Merida, such as parks, have signs in Spanish and in a Mayan language.
Some of the exhibits were built into the floor and shone through glass.
Overall I had a great time going through the museum and learning about Mayan culture.
Hey there! I’m Shila! I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!
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