Living jewelry of Mayan women and modern echoes of a strange culture (11 photos)
The Mayan civilization, long sunk into oblivion, amazingly combined highly cultural development and cruelty. However, it was impossible to survive without this: this is the time. But the specific fashion of Mayan aristocrats continues today. 
The descendants of the Mayan Indians pass on a beautiful legend from mouth to mouth. The beautiful black-haired princess Kusan, whose name translates as Bird, has reached her prime. And her father decided to marry her to the son of a neighboring ruler in order to strengthen political ties. The girl submitted to the will of her parent. 
But then a young courtier from her father’s retinue, the red-haired young man Chalpol, caught her eye. As usual, a spark broke out between them, and a secret romance began. The father was angry when he learned about the princess’s relationship with a simple guard, and ordered the guy to be sacrificed according to established tradition.
Kusan's tears touched the ruler. And he agreed to a compromise: Chalpon’s life is spared, but the gods turn him into an insect - small and pathetic. History is silent about how they negotiated with higher powers. But the unfortunate woman agreed, because what was more important for her was the realization that her beloved was alive.
Chalpol became a beetle. The princess ordered to decorate the back of the insect with precious stones, and attach a gold chain to the leg. To always carry your loved one on your chest and let him listen to your heartbeat.
The gods shed tears, seeing such a touching story, and turned the princess into a beetle too. So the couple reunited, becoming sacred Makesh beetles. 
Zopherus chilensis has muted golden backs and can be found buried in wood in Mexico and Venezuela
Noble Mayan women perceived this legend as a direct guide to action and a way to show off. If a lady did not have a chosen one or he did not suit her too well, then she acquired a dressed-up beetle. They say, look, I’m not too bad either. I have a worthy beloved, but he’s bewitched. But the main goal, of course, was to demonstrate the stones in order to hit their friends on the nose. 
As princes, they did not use the first booger that came along, but only armadillos or beetles called buffalo buckle. They are large, wildly slow and have a very hard shell. Where you can safely stick or carefully screw in all sorts of decorations. They eat little and rarely, as well as move. And the jewelers got down to business. And soon the beauties showed off, hung with precious beetles. 
Insects are decorated with fake gems, pearls and chains
And then they came. No, not “green”. Not too noble, but practical conquistadors. And they quickly realized that one such insect could buy an entire estate in their homeland. And they opened a hunt for the owners of living brooches. Some of the aristocrats were killed. The others quickly realized that the jewelry was life-threatening. And they got rid of them.
New life for an old legend 
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. houses a collection of 28 specimens
Time has passed. And these days, the fashion for living jewelry has taken a new turn. In Mexico they make precious or semi-precious makechas, which can live quite well for a couple of years if they are well cared for.
True, taking them out of the country is prohibited. But, one must believe, with a strong desire, this can be done. And those fashionistas who like the trend even purchase an alternative in the form of Madagascar cockroaches, cicadas and scarabs.
Animal rights activists are somehow trying to combat this inhumane trend. But their opinion, as usual, is of little interest to anyone if money and the opportunity to earn it are at stake. 
