Life & Death Duality Cedar Mayan Mask

This intricately carved sculpture is a contemporary Mexican folk art piece, made from cedar wood. It is a modern interpretation of ancient Mayan and Aztec iconography, specifically focusing on the theme of duality—the balance between life and death.

Craftsmanship and Origin
This style of carving is very common in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Modern artisans use these ancient symbols to create decorative wall hangings. While not an "ancient artifact," it is a piece of living tradition that honors the complex spiritual history of the region.

Here is a breakdown of the primary symbols and their meanings:
1. The Central Face: Life & Death Duality
The most striking feature is the "split" face at the bottom.
The Left Side (Green): Represents Life and the Earth. The green hue and geometric patterns (resembling Mayan fretwork or "grecas") symbolize vitality, vegetation, and the human world.
The Right Side (Turquoise Skull): Represents Death and the Underworld (Xibalba). In Mesoamerican culture, death was not seen as an end but as a necessary transition. The turquoise color often mimics precious stones like jade, which were buried with royalty to ensure safe passage to the afterlife.

2. The Jaguar Warrior
The face is framed by the gaping jaws of a Jaguar (the yellow feline at the top).
In Mayan and Aztec cultures, the jaguar was the supreme predator and a symbol of strength, war, and night. Jaguar Warriors (Ocelotl) were elite military units. Wearing the skin or mask of a jaguar was believed to grant the warrior the animal's ferocity and spiritual power.

3. Supporting Guardians
Flanking the central figure are two other significant animals:
The Serpent (Right, Green): Likely representing Kukulkan (Mayan) or Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), the "Feathered Serpent." This deity links the earth to the sky and represents wisdom and creation.
The Canine/Coyote (Left, Orange): Often associated with Xolotl, the god of fire and lightning, who was the guide for souls traveling through the underworld.