In ancient Maya culture, being cross-eyed was considered beautiful, even divine. The Maya associated this trait with Kinich Ahau, the sun god, who was often depicted with crossed eyes in carvings and art. To emulate this ideal, elite families would dangle small objects between a baby’s eyes, encouraging the child to become permanently cross-eyed. 

This wasn’t the only beauty practice that might seem extreme today—elongated skulls, filed teeth, and elaborate jewelry were also signs of status and refinement. In Maya society, beauty wasn’t just skin-deep, it was sacred, symbolic, and carefully cultivated.