While in San Cristobal we were fortunate to meet one of the leading Mexican anthropologists who studies mayan symbolism. He explained the significance of practically every detail of this elaborate church, pointing out that the mayans who were contracted to build it not only sculpted the catholic symbols that were asked of them, but also snuck in a parallel Mayan symbol. For instance, Jesus is juxtaposed by Quetzalcoatl (the mayan diety that looks like a feathered snake). Here Quetzalcoatl is shown approximately in the center of the image with a conch above his head (in this photo he looks a bit like a mermaid). Apparently the royal family that funded the project never questioned the extra symbols.
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