Mayan sculpture was typically made out of stone, wood, stucco or precious stones. Some other materials were occasionally used, such as marine shells (particularly nacre). Many of the stone sculptures were inlaid with jade; most of those made with stucco were painted. Wooden sculptures, on the other hand, rarely survived to the present day. Mayan sculpture was also very realistic, especially in the carved busts of kings and gods.
One of the major styles of Mayan sculpture were the Stelae. A Stela was a large stone slab, covered with carvings. Like most Mayan art, these usually depicted either kings or gods. Another common form of sculpture was altars, which were used for religious purposes and carved with scenes from mythology. Sculpture was also used to decorate the walls and doorways of buildings.
Ceramics were also important to Mayan art, and were usually painted with notable detail. These pieces were often exchanged between members of the higher class. They were also frequently kept as heirlooms, or even buried with their owners.
