The ancient Maya mastered the art of ceramic (制陶艺术) in a manner which virtually no other culture did.

　　The Vase of the Seven Gods, made in the area of Naranjo, an ancient city of the Maya civilization in the present－day Petén, Guatemala, shows the fine way Maya handled clay. Like all art of Maya, this vase exhibits highly religious symbols. Furthermore, the artist's name is carved along the bottom of this piece in the form of a small white rabbit.

Ceramics also served as reminders of ancestors and gods. The Flour De Lis Vase is a fine example of this. The water lilies are not only symbols of new birth and life giving qualities, but a constant reminder of purity. On this vase, the water lilies are white, which is undoubtedly a sign of purity. The black background shows the sea, in which the lilies float.

Furthermore, ceramics served practical functions in the Maya culture. Vases, which are quite commonly seen today, were used primarily to hold liquid chocolate and cocoa. Bowls were used to hold various maize (玉米) products. Maize was seen as the imaginary body of the Maize God and the ancient Maya thought that as one ate the maize or the body of God from the bowl, they actually became God. Plates were merely used for any object.

　　Finally, Maya used depictions on ceramics to resurrect (使复活) family members and honor gods. Because they believe that they would come back to life with their names spoken or their figures drawn, the carvings and paintings on these ceramics played a vital role in Maya spirituality.

　　Clearly, ceramics served a key function in ancient Maya society from dinner plates to acts of God.

　　篇章导读：本文为说明文，介绍了古老的玛雅文化和古代玛雅人高超的制陶艺术。

　　5．What do we know from the passage?

A．The art of ceramic of the ancient Maya was instructed by gods.