# Pectoral

- By: Maya (Mexico or Guatemala)
- Date: 200–800 CE
- Medium: Jadeite
- Classification: Costume and Accessories
- Dimensions: 7 × 7 cm (2 3/4 × 2 3/4 in.)
- Culture: Mexico
- Credit line: Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/30374)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/61fb4e01-8b60-5703-0e42-5fa95d2967be/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

This elegant chest ornament would have been part of a ruler’s ceremonial regalia. In Maya society, as among other Amerindian peoples, a ruler’s attire indicated rank, religious function, and place of origin. Such dress was highly regulated, and only members of the nobility wore jade and other greenstones as an expression of their wealth and high status. Moreover, these rare and valued stones were considered to be inherently sacred and powerful. By wearing jade regalia, kings directly associated themselves with the youthful green maize plant and life-giving blue-green waters.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0