SOME TYPES OF SCULPTURAL IMAGES OF THE MAYA AND THEIR COMMUNICATIVE CHARACTER

Article is devoted to sculptural images of the Maya and their value for understanding of outlook of these people. The sculpture of the Maya is deeply symbolical, its symbols are religious. It bears information on religion, representations on afterlife of the Maya, and also on features of their historical development. It is confirmation of that in ancient art the semiotics prevails over an esthetics.

semiotics system, symbol, sculpture of the Maya, stele, altar, «a ritual strip», cult of ancestors, archaeological art, outlook of the Maya, architectural decor, Toltecs