Ancient Mayan temple builders used pigments containing mica to make their buildings glitter in the sun.

Rosemary Goodall, a Queensland University of Technology researcher, found that the mica was applied over red paint on the well-preserved Rosalila temple in the Mayan city of Copan. The temple dates from AD400-800.

Goodall said

The Rosalila would have been one of the highest buildings of the valley in its time, built by the Maya ruler to exhibit his power and impress his subjects… I’m sure that when the sun hit it, it must have sparkled. It must have had the most amazing appearance.”

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We visit ancient Mayan ruins on our Belize trip for women later this year. When you look at the pyramids, just imagine them brightly colored and sparkling in the sunlight. I’m always looking for related items of interest, and post in our Belize category.