Mérida begins construction of Maya goddess monument

Authorities in Mérida have held a groundbreaking ceremony for a replica of the Estela 18 of Uxmal, to be installed at the Remate de Paseo de Montejo. The monument is dedicated to the Maya goddess Chak Chel, who is associated with water, agriculture, fertility, and rain.

Mérida Mayor Cecilia Patrón Laviada stated that the project aims to prioritize Maya identity and honor the historical contributions of women. The original stela, dated between 700 and 1000 AD, was discovered in 2022. The replica will be larger than the original and was handcrafted by artisans from Muna.

Sculptor Rodrigo Martín, who worked on the piece at his Casa de la Cerámica workshop, noted that the creation required manual labor using ferrous limestone from the Puuc region. The process involved working with a monolithic block to ensure the cultural and technical accuracy of the ancient elements.