Mayan War Axe

Faris and Zach

1. Handle – For our axe handle, we used string and wrapped it around the bottom of the axe to add
some extra grip for when someone would swing the axe. We also though that if there was no
string, that when someone was using the axe, they might get splinters from the wood, and they
would not be able to hold on to the axe while swinging it. One wood type that could have been
used was hard maple wood, because of its level of sturdiness that might not be present in the
type of wood that we ended up using. Since this wood surface was quite rough, I think it was
vital that we added the string to add a softer sensation for the hand and have enough grip for
swinging accurately.
2. Axe blade - Our Axe head is made from Obsidian. The head was created with the intention to
both smash bones, with the heavier side of the axe out, and to inflict many small wounds using
the small ridges on the end of the blade. Mayans used axes like the one we made for both
warfare and hunting. They used obsidian because it is a volcanic glass that can be shaped into a
very sharp blade.
3. Glyph #1 – Glyph #1 – Our first glyph represents a jaguar which is a symbol of strength for the
Mayans. The Jaguar was an important symbol for Mayans because it represented loyalty, and
 leadership. Jaguars themselves were associated with warriors. The Jaguar glyph is known as
bahlam in the Mayan language.
4. Glyph #2 – Our second glyph represents fire. The glyph for fire is connected to the famous
Mayan political figure Siyaj K’ak. He was a warlord that was mentioned in the glyphs of many
Mayan cities. Additionally, fire was widely used in the famous Mayan fire ceremony.
5. Glyph #3 – Our third glyph represents the sun. The sun was a symbol of great importance in
Mayan culture because the Mayans learned a lot about solar cycles. The symbols of the sun
represented life and knowledge. The sun was a crucial symbol of Mayan civilization, expressing
their appreciation of nature and its importance to their religious and social conceptions.
6. Glyph #4 – Our fourth glyph represents the sky which was of great significance for the Mayans
because of its representation of a blend of scientific and spiritual elements. The sky also held
great importance to the Mayans because it was a great source of astronomical observations as
well as its deep symbolic and spiritual significance.
7. Glyph #5 – Our fifth glyph represents a shield that held great significance to the Mayans as their
main defensive weapon. All Mayan warriors relied on shields, which were crafted from wood or
animal hide, to safeguard themselves during battles, allowing them to engage in combat with
confidence and resilience. Shields were vital for Mayan warriors in battle, which would be
accompanied by an ace such as the one that we made.
8. Glyph #6 – Our sixth glyph is the symbol which has the meaning of ‘holy’. This glyph held
significant spiritual and cultural importance for the Mayans, representing unity and
interconnectedness in their worldviews. The holy glyph was not only a religious symbol, but also
a representation of their interconnectedness of various parts of Mayan life and belief system.