Heidi Norton
Mayan incense burners, also known as incensarios, were used throughout the Mayan Civilization for ritualistic purposes. Incense burners were not only used by the elite, but by individuals throughout Mesoamerica, who used ceramic vessels to burn organic materials such as copal, corn, and even human blood. The Mayans believed that every person had an animal companion who shared their soul, and these animals were usually depicted in their incense burners. The incense burner tops came in various shapes, colours, and sizes, and were often decorated with quetzal birds, bright feathers, flowers, and jewels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Ceramic |
| Purpose | Ritualistic |
| Usage | Burning incense to communicate with the supernatural realm |
| Incense used | Copal, corn, human blood |
| Shapes | Various |
| Colors | Various |
| Sizes | Various |
| Common designs | Animal companions, rulers, deities, ancestors |
| Adornments | Large headdresses, jewellery, shells, beads, feathers, flowers, jewels |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burner designs
Mayan incense burners, or incensarios, were made from ceramic and used throughout the Mayan civilisation for ritualistic purposes. Mayan incense burners have been found in various shapes, colours, and sizes, with many different designs and versions found throughout Guatemala. Mayan incense burners were used to burn organic materials such as copal, corn, and even human blood. The smoke was considered a form of communication between the human and supernatural realms.
Incense burners play several roles in properly using and enjoying incense. They add safety as a fireproof vessel that contains burning incense and its ashes. They also add aesthetics, with their infinite materials, designs, textures, and colours. Incense burners are made for specific uses or forms of incense. For example, incense bowls are long and narrow burners designed for incense sticks. They usually have a hole or slot for a stick on one end or in the middle, and the rest of the burner catches the ashes as the stick burns. Incense stoves are used to gently heat single woods or loose resin or powdered incense mixtures. They are usually candle or electric-based and put distance between the heat source and the incense to release aromas without causing smoke.
There are many types of incense burners on the market, and people also use their imagination to create homemade incense burners out of different materials. Some essential oil diffusers can also function as incense stoves. Kodo cups, for example, are special cups designed for Japanese Kodo Ceremonies where multiple people participate in passing around a special incense cup, inhaling its aroma, and guessing the type of wood.
Incense burners can be made from a variety of materials, but it is always best to use a fireproof material such as stone, ceramic, or metal. Mayan incense burners, for example, were made from micaceous clay, with traces of yellow, white, and red paint.
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Incense burner uses
Mayan incense burners, usually made out of ceramic, were highly used throughout the Mayan Civilization for ritualistic purposes. Mayan rulers also had to erect religious temples and other architectural structures to please the gods, and these acts pleased the nobility and commoners.
Incense burners were used to burn organic materials such as copal, corn, and even human blood. The smoke from these materials was considered a form of communication between the human and supernatural realms. Mayan incense burners have been found in various shapes, colours, and sizes, with many different designs and versions of these burners discovered throughout Guatemala.
The incense used in these burners included coals and copal incense (tree resin), which were abundant in Mesoamerica. The base of the burner held the burning coals and incense, allowing the smoke to rise into the lid and escape through holes or a chimney attached to the back.
Mayan incense burners often featured intricate painted designs and may have depicted rulers, deities, or ancestors. The lids of these burners sometimes showcased miniature temples decorated with feathers, flowers, and jewels, while the burners themselves could be adorned with shells, beads, and other symbolic decorations.
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Incense burner materials
Mayan incense burners were usually made out of ceramic. The Mayan civilisation was in an ideal location for making ceramics, particularly in the highlands of Guatemala, which has a rich geological history due to its volcanic past. The volcanic activity provided a range of tempering materials, such as metamorphic and igneous rock, sand, and ash. The area also has a variety of clays that create different colours and strengths when fired.
The Mayan incense burners were often painted, with traces of yellow, white, and red paint found on the burners. The incense burners were found in various shapes, colours, and sizes, and were used throughout the Mayan civilisation for ritualistic purposes. Mayan incense burners have been discovered in Guatemala, with one found in Tiquisate, a place along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, that imitates the art style of Teotihuacán, a famous ancient city in Central Mexico.
The incense used in Mayan burners included coals and copal incense (tree resin), which were abundant in Mesoamerica. Copal pom is a commonly found tree in the region, and its resin is used for incense. The incense smoke was believed to be a vehicle for ancestors to communicate with the living. Mayan incense burners were also decorated with materials such as jade beads, shells, and feathers.
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Incense types
Incense is available in various forms and can be broadly categorised into two types: "direct-burning" and "indirect-burning". Direct-burning incense, also known as combustible incense, is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving a glowing ember that smoulders and releases a smoky fragrance. This type of incense is either a paste formed around a bamboo stick or a paste that is extruded into a stick, coil, or cone shape.
Indirect-burning incense, on the other hand, is non-combustible and cannot burn on its own. It requires a separate heat source, such as charcoal or glowing embers. Finer forms of indirect-burning incense tend to burn more rapidly, while coarser or whole chunks may burn very gradually due to their smaller surface area.
Within these broad categories, there are several specific types of incense:
- Stick incense: This is the most common type and comes in various lengths, offering different burning times. It consists of a thin stick made from bamboo, coated in scent-infused material. Japanese incense sticks are created by kneading, extruding, and drying the ingredients, and they come in a wide range of fragrances, including woody, floral, citrus, and fruity scents.
- Coil incense: This type of incense is formed into a flat, coil shape without a supporting core. It lies flat on sand or a heat-proof dish and provides a larger area for burning, making it ideal for outdoor use or large, ventilated spaces.
- Cone incense: Cone incense was invented in Japan in the 1800s and burns relatively quickly. It is placed on top of ash or in a burner and produces a strong scent.
- Paste incense: Powdered or granulated incense material is mixed with a sticky, non-combustible binder such as dried fruit, honey, or soft resin to create small pastilles or balls. Arabian incense, also called "Bukhoor" or "Bakhoor", and Japanese kneaded incense, "nerikō" or "awasekō", are examples of this type.
Incense burners were also an important part of Mayan civilisation, used for ritualistic purposes. Mayan incense burners were typically made of ceramic and often depicted animals, as the Mayans believed that each person had an animal companion that shared their soul.
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Mayan incense burner locations
Mayan incense burners, also known as incensarios, were used throughout the Mayan Civilization for ritualistic purposes. They were usually made out of ceramic and have been found in various shapes, colours, and sizes all around modern-day Guatemala.
One such incense burner was found in Tiquisate, Guatemala, and dates back to the Mayan Early Classical Period (400-600 CE). This burner features a human head wearing wide, circular ear flares and a large headdress that forms a building surrounding the figure. It is now on display at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Another Mayan incense burner, known as the "Censer with seated king", is currently located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This burner depicts a Maya ruler wearing a large, elaborate headdress and jewellery assemblage. The figure sits cross-legged atop a hemispherical dome and holds various ritual implements.
The Walters Art Museum in Maryland is home to another Mayan incense burner. This burner features a supernatural being, perhaps a deified ancestor, emerging from a large shell that symbolises the entrance into the watery underworld. The figure is adorned with jewellery, including a three-strand necklace of round beads and shells on his chest, upper arms, and wrists.
In addition to these specific locations, Mayan incense burners have been found throughout Guatemala and the surrounding regions, including Mexico and Honduras. They were commonly used by individuals of all social classes and played an important role in Mayan rituals and religious ceremonies.
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Frequently asked questions
Mayan incense burners were vessels used to burn organic materials like copal, corn, and even human blood. They were made out of ceramic and used throughout the Mayan Civilization for ritualistic purposes.
The Mayans believed that every person had an animal companion who shared their soul. The smoke from the incense burner was considered a form of communication between the human and supernatural realms. Mayan incense burners were often decorated with symbols and motifs that held religious and cultural significance.
Mayan incense burners were found in various shapes, colours, and sizes. Some were simple ceramic vessels, while others were more elaborate and decorative, featuring human or animal figures, intricate painted designs, and symbolic motifs. They often had lids or tops with holes to allow the smoke to escape.
