The Jade Legacy: Unveiling the Mystical Meaning of Mesoamerica’s Most Sacred Gem

Jade is currently considered a precious stone of great value, however it had great significance for the Mayans, learn about it.
The most common and prized color of jade for the Mayans was green, known as imperial jade. In fact, the interesting material had important characteristics for the ancient culture of Mesoamerica. Here we tell you a little about the meaning of jade for the Mayans.

Jade is considered a precious stone that is formed as a result of great underground pressures and emerges to the surface with the movement of tectonic plates. It has variations in color and this is due to the presence and quantity of different minerals.
In Guatemala, the largest concentration of jade is found in the Sierra de las Minas, specifically in the Motagua fault, from where it is believed it was obtained and distributed to other pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures.
According to studies and research, jade was more valuable to the Mayans than gold. This is because it was evident that its extreme hardness allowed it to remain intact over time. For this reason, it was associated with eternity and immortality.

Jade was also associated with life, fertility and power. It also symbolized the most valuable resources for agriculture, such as water and corn.
Apart from all the symbolism that jade represented in the Mayan civilization, it was also used for therapeutic purposes, as it was considered capable of curing any disease. Derived from the above, jade was used to make everyday utensils, such as knives, bowls, and ornaments for funerals and rituals. When members of royalty were buried, they were given bracelets, necklaces, or masks, as a way for their hierarchy to be recognized even after death.

Today, in Guatemala there are different places, such as museums, for example, that show how jade pieces were extracted and made with the purpose of transmitting the knowledge that by using jade pieces, one is part of an entire Mayan worldview.
It took the Mayans years to work and carve jade, but they did it with great detail because the pieces were dedicated to their gods.
Today, the value of jade is second only to that of diamonds, as it is considered a rare gemstone since it is only found in a few parts of the world.
The Mayan civilization linked jade directly with the origin of the universe since according to their mythology, the god of corn placed three pieces of jade during the creation of the world.

Mayan warriors who guarded sacred places covered their chests with jade pectorals, while a leader could have multiple pieces of this material such as jade anklets, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.
In the municipality of Nebaj, in Quiché, evidence of one of the oldest works made of jade was found, it is a plaque with Mayan gods from the Classic period.