Carved pendants, such as this handsome example, are common central elements in the beaded necklaces worn by Maya elite. The upper classes loved to ornament themselves with a wide array of valuable and highly decorative objects; from flamboyant feathers to heavy jade Celts. Necklaces with dangling pendants may have worn on a normal daily basis and not just during ceremonies, as visible signs of wealth and social status. This head is similar to certain sun-god pendants, especially in the horizontal bars used in place of earspools. Its 'architectural' structure is reminiscent of the more monumental stone sculptures decorating Maya pyramids. The rough surface of the eye depressions suggests they may have inlaid with shell. To hold this pendant in the palm of your hand gives a strong feeling of life for the Maya elite-- a life of luxury, artistic beauty and mystery of the supernatural.