Maya and Andean civilizations exhibit unveiled in Beijing

A ceremony for Maize·Gold·Jaguar: A Grand Exhibition of Ancient Maya and Andean Civilizations was held at the Capital Museum in Beijing on Sunday. The exhibition officially opens on Monday, which is International Museum Day.

With about 800 artifacts from more than 20 cultural heritage institutes in Mexico and Peru, the exhibition the largest in the museum's history, covering three main halls and public areas. Ancient Chinese civilization and the Maya-Andean civilizations face each other across the same space, offering visitors a dialogue that transcends time.

"Maize" symbolizes the agricultural foundation and material basis that sustained the ancient peoples of the Americas; the "jaguar", a beast unique to the American continent, serves as a sacred totem and symbol of power revered by both the Maya and Andean civilizations; and "gold" within the Andean cultural system represents the supreme religious beliefs and secular authority. Together, the three elements outline a complete picture of civilization from subsistence and production to spiritual beliefs and power structures.