AN ONLINE COURSE
Ancient Maya Art
and Architecture of the Classic Period
Explore the world of the Ancient Maya, from Pakal’s jade mask at Palenque to the queens of Yaxchilán and the brilliantly colored murals of Bonampak. In this online course, you’ll explore the cities, kings, queens, and everyday lives behind some of the more remarkable art and architecture from the Americas between c. 500–800 CE.
Palenque
Tikal
Yaxchilán
Get to know the basics of Classic Maya art and architecture.
Who were some of the ancient Maya kings and queens? Why did they build such dazzling cities? How did they record events and advertise their power? This self-paced crash course lets you explore the ancient Maya courts, tombs, temples, portable objects, and murals to discover the art and architecture they left behind.
You’ll get a brief overview of ancient Maya art and architecture from approximately 500 to 800 CE.
Your Guide
Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
Lauren earned an MA and PhD in Art History at the University of California, Los Angeles. She specializes in the art of the Indigenous Americas and the Spanish Americas. One of her favorite classes to teach is a semester-long course on Mesoamerica.
She took most of the photographs and videos for this course (many of which you can’t find online), spending far too much time dodging fire ants, venomous snakes, and dehydration to get the best shots. She has lived and traveled extensively in this region.
Read more about Lauren.
Get on the waitlist!
〰️
Get on the waitlist! 〰️
*Signing up for the course waitlist subscribes you to our monthly newsletter as well. No spam, ever.
What’s it like?
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Introductory
No prior experience required
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Self-paced
Learn on your own time, at your own speed
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12 Lessons
5+ hours of videos, text, images, & interactive activities
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Inexpensive & Accessible
Priced at a fraction of a College Course. Revisit anytime—it’s yours forever
What you’ll do inside the course
Bust myths about Maya culture
Walk under the carved lintels of Yaxchilán and meet Lady K’abal Xook
Step into the painted rooms at Bonampak through short videos filmed on site
Pick out details on complex sculptures and buildings
Decode a real Maya calendar date
Hear how Maya words are pronounced
Test yourself with knowledge checks
Who This Class Is For
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Museum-goers
You have stood in front of Mesoamerican art in a museum and wanted to understand it more deeply.
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Lifelong learners
You love art but have never had a formal way to study it. This is your chance to start developing a foundation in Mesoamerican art.
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Travelers
You are planning a trip to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, or Honduras and want the visual vocabulary to match.
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Anyone Wanting a Crash Course on the Maya
This class is intended for people who want to build a strong foundation for understanding the ancient Maya.
Course Details
Introduction to the Maya World
A brief introduction to the ancient Maya of the Classic period.
Land, Regions, and Resources
An overview of where the Maya lived and how the land affected their lifeways.
Rulers, Courts, and Everyday Life
Examine how Classic Maya society was organized, focusing on the court at Tikal in Guatemala.
City in Focus: Palenque and Pakal
A closer look at the site of Palenque in Chiapas, its most famous ruler, Pakal, and his famous tomb.
City in Focus: Yaxchilán on the Usumacinta River
Take time to get to know this site, famous for its relief carvings.
Building in Focus: Bonampak’s Structure 1
Explore the building containing the most surviving Maya murals with on-site videos.
Beliefs, Rituals, and the Gods
Focus on some of the most important Maya beliefs and deities, such as the Maize God.
Writing, Art, and Achievements
Learn how Maya writing worked and explore important Maya art, such as screenfold codices.
Sculpted Architecture
A look at the architectural styles of the Puuc, Río Bec, and Chenes traditions, which often feature heavily ornamented stucco sculpture.
Conflict, Collapse, and Change
Consider why imagery of warfare and captivity was so prominent in Maya art.
Legacy and Living Maya
A brief look at how some Classic Period beliefs and ideas remain today among contemporary Maya people.
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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Absolutely. Ancient Maya Art and Architecture of the Classic Period was designed for people with no prior art history background.
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Google gives you facts and can lead you in many different places (not all of them great). This course gives you more context.
Dr. Kilroy-Ewbank draws on years of university-level teaching to help you understand not just what you are looking at, but why it matters and how it connects to a bigger story.
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Most modules are 10–30 minutes, so the whole course fits into a weekend—or you can spread it over a few weeks at your own pace.
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ARTSQ was built on the belief that great art history education should be accessible to more people, not just students in university classrooms. This course is our way of putting that belief into practice.
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Yes, but parents and teachers should use their best judgment. The course is designed for curious learners of all ages. It does include discussion of warfare and captive imagery, as well as the practice of bloodletting from the tongue.
Get on the waitlist!
〰️
Get on the waitlist! 〰️
*Signing up for the course waitlist subscribes you to our monthly newsletter as well. No spam, ever.
We create engaging, research-based art and history education designed for real people—kids, students, teachers, parents, travelers, and lifelong learners
We believe art history should be:
accessible
fun
visually rich
genuinely useful