ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stela of the cactus bearer

Okay kiddo, do you like stories? I have one to tell you about a special thing called the stela of the cactus bearer.

Long, long ago, there was a group of people called the Maya who lived in a place called Mesoamerica. They wrote their stories down using pictures and symbols on big stones called stelae.

Now, this stela in particular is about a man who carried a special kind of plant called a cactus. The Maya believed that this plant had magical powers and could protect them from bad things happening.

So, in the picture on the stela, we can see the man holding the cactus and wearing some very fancy clothes. He looks important, doesn't he?

But wait, there's more! If you look closely, you'll see some lines of writing on the stela. These are the words of the Maya language, and they tell us more about this man and his cactus.

This stela is a way for the Maya to share their stories with us and tell us about their beliefs and culture. And that's the story of the stela of the cactus bearer! Do you want to learn more about the Maya and their stelae?