Artifact: Artisan Articulation

The Maya placed great importance on Nature. Animals were usually given their own myth and some were also considered to be affiliated with certain aspects of life, such as the jaguar being regarded as the protector of the Underworld. Spider monkeys also had their own significance. They were believed to have been descended from the Hero Twins', Hunahpu and Xbalanque, older half-brothers. The half-brothers were very skilled at the arts: pottery, writing, dancing, etc. One day, they were tricked by the Hero Twins to climb a tall tree. The tree then grew, creating a tall void between the ground and tree, and disabling them to climb back down. The Hero Twins told their half-brothers to wear their loin cloths as tails to help them climb down, but instead turned them into spider and howler monkeys. Therefore, spider and howler monkeys became the gods of artists and writers, and had many artifacts dedicated to them. Statues of the half-brothers were prayed to in order to embody some of their skill to the artist or artwork being created. The simian artifacts are usually found in artisan-oriented places. Those spaces specifically designed to aid craftsmen in their work. The ornamentation on the artifact inspires the worker's mind in the details of ceramics, or the architect's articulation of buildings. The monkey god is also depicted during the crafting of a mask held in between his hands, hinting to the program of the place in which the artifact should be located.

Much like artifacts were created for specific events or situations, constructions were created with specific programs. Maya city planners realized the importance of compartmentalization, so different constructions were erected for singular purposes: The Governor's Palace used as the ruler's residence, The Ball Court used for sporting ceremonies, or The House of Birds speculated to have served as military headquarters.