For the first time ever, a number of Maya masks are being shown to the public.

17 minutes ago

The green jade stones were more important than gold to the Maya culture. In mosaics, they form the foundation stones of the masks that have now found their way to Moesgaard Museum in Aarhus.

This is the first time in Denmark that the rare masks are on public display. In fact, it is a world premiere.

They are on loan from the Mexican national institute INAH and have never been exhibited before – neither in Mexico nor abroad.

The Maya still exist today. But just as we in Denmark are descendants of the Vikings, it is the Maya culture from 250 to 900 CE that the exhibition zooms in on.

- The culture is completely unique and developed far more than we did in Europe at the same time. So in many ways, it is strange that we have not learned more about them before, says Mads Ravn, head of content at Moesgaard Museum.

He adds that these are some "completely exceptional finds."

The Maya civilization consisted of many kingdoms, but one surpassed them all – the so-called Snake Dynasty. And it is from this realm that the masks originate. One of them is from the founder of the Snake Dynasty himself.

From 9 October, the jade masks can be visited at the Aarhus museum. And otherwise, you can get a sneak peek at the masks right here.

The jade masks were placed in the rulers' graves. This one is from the grave of the ruler Sky Witness. 'Sky Witness' was ruler of the Snake Dynasty from 571–595 CE. (© Poul Madsen/Moesgaard/INAH) This mask is from the grave of Yuknom Ch’en I in the Jaguar Temple. He is the founder of the so-called Snake Dynasty, which according to Moesgaard is "one of the most powerful ruling dynasties." He reigned from approx. 402 to 455 CE. (© Poul Madsen/Moesgaard/INAH) It is not without reason that the Maya used jade stones for the masks. Life was believed to flow from the jade back into the dead and give them eternal life among the gods. (© Maria Amme/Moesgaard/INAH) In addition to the jade masks, the exhibition features 200 other objects from the Maya culture on loan from other museums. (© Maria Amme/Moesgaard/INAH)

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