From their relationship with nature and architecture to their entertainment through music, dance and folklore, Mayan culture is vibrant. This vibrancy continues to prevail among the many Central American communities in Houston.
Ancient Mayans are a Mesoamerican civilization who occupied a wide landmass including parts of southeastern Mexico and much of Central America—areas in which the Modern Mayans can still be found today.
In Houston, there are many restaurants specializing in Mayan cuisine today.
This includes restaurants such as Campesino Coffee House, Merida Restaurant, Teotihuacan Mexican Cafe and many more.
Maya cuisine centers around maize, beans, squash and chili peppers. It features cooking methods such as hot-rock boiling, underground ovens and roasting over open fire, with tortillas and stews being staples.
Cultivating their crop, Ancient Mayans also incorporated tomatoes, avocados, pineapples, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. Additionally, they hunted deer, armadillos, monkeys, pigs, turtles and iguanas and caught fish and other seafood.
Modern Mayans still carry out many of these culinary and lifestyle practices today. These practices remain a foundational element of Mexican and Central American food. Tamales are an ideal example of how their culinary traditions continue.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston showcases a selection of Mayan artifacts.
Much of Ancient Mayan artifacts reflect Mayan folklore and mythology, as well as other depictions of their livelihoods and authority figures.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston housed the Seated Ruler from Stela 11, found in Piedras Negras, an ancient Maya city located in present-day Guatemala.
Seated majestically on his throne, Ruler 4 gazes down on a scene of sacrifice. His name is untranslated, so he is referred to as Ruler 4, the fourth ruler in a dynastic lineage of kings.
The attention to detail in the sculpture is remarkable. It provides an interesting look into Mayan culture and way of life.
Today, the ancient civilization, with its sophisticated systems and enduring traditions, continues to live on in the culinary, artistic and cultural practices of Central American communities in Houston, where Mayan heritage continues to be celebrated.
Fun fact: Mayan ruins inspired the architectural design of the top of Heritage Plaza (pictured above). The building sits in the heart of downtown Houston
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