RUDN Journal of World HistoryRUDN Journal of World History2312-81272312-833XPeoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)1330Research ArticleSOME TYPES OF SCULPTURAL IMAGES OF THE MAYA AND THEIR COMMUNICATIVE CHARACTERPyshnovaS LTheory and Cultural History Chairpyshnova59@mail.ruPeoples Friendship University of Russia150220142798803092016Copyright © 2014,2014Article 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 systemsymbolsculpture of the Mayastelealtar«a ritual strip»cult of ancestorsarchaeological artoutlook of the Mayaarchitectural decorToltecsсемиотическая системасимволскульптура майястелаалтарь«ритуальная полоса»культ предковархеологическое искусствомировоззрение майяархитектурный декортольтеки