The Peabody Museum logo represents a seventh-century Maya maize deity from Copan, Honduras. It comes from Temple 22, a portrayal of Yax Hal Witznal, the First True Mountain of Creation. The twenty maize deity sculptures from this building are some of the most expressive examples of Copan artistry, each with a slightly individualized countenance, maize cobs sprouting from their crowns, corn silk hair, and jade earspools. They personify the earth’s fertility, and sustenance through the cycle of sacred maize.
To learn more about glyphs at Copan, visit the Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions Program page.