Looking through fierce eyes, this jaguar stands as a witness to time. The original mask was taken from its location without proper recording, and at Jaguar Archeological Project it was concluded it comes from El Salvador's western regions. The mask indicates the artistic stylizations of the region, masterfully carved by hand from a cedar tree branch, for the Project is committed to preserving the environment. Throughout El Salvador there have been found images depicting the jaguar with a crest, big mouth and fangs, as well as an inverted u shaped nostrils and swirling eyes. Known as Balam or Chac, according to Maya cosmogony the jaguar represents nature’s elements: water, earth, fire, and air. Maya shamans, priests and rulers used the jaguar as a symbol of authority and leadership. The upper part of the head usually represents life elements, and the lower part connotes a skeleton. Jaguar masks are believed to represent the transformation of a human into a being with magical powers.
