40 SECOND FLOOR, SOUTHWEST WING 



higher and finer type of carving, covering a space of time of two or three 

 hundred years. This arrangement applies only to the row of casts on either 

 side, not to the two large central models, nor to the side exhibits. The 

 early stelse of about 100 A. D. have hieroglyphs carved in very low relief 

 and with sharp corners, while the hieroglyphs of the later period are cut 

 deeper and in more rounded relief. In the earlier stela? human figures are 

 carved in a crude blocklike manner, with protruding eyes and angular 

 limbs. Students of this subject have been able to decipher a large part of 

 these hieroglyphs and figures which give dates and reckonings. 



The monolithic monuments mark the first period of Mayan culture. 



The large altar stone to the left of the entrance is also of 



the first period and is perhaps the finest and most perfectly 



preserved specimen of which we have a reproduction. It represents a 



double-headed monster which had religious significance. 



The second period of Mayan culture was more architectural in style 

 and the art was a higher type, as is evidenced by the profile work in the 

 reproductions of the carvings from the temples at Palenque shown on the 

 north side of the hall. On the south wall another example of the art of 

 this period is the copy of the painted sculpture from the "Temple of the 

 Jaguars" at Chichen-Itza, Yucatan. It shows warriors in procession 

 going to worship some god and their prayers are represented as coming 

 from their lips. This sculpture shows strong evidence of Mexican influence 

 in certain of its details. 



Next in order is the Nahuatl culture, which is represented in the alcove 

 cases by ancient pottery, musical instruments, copper objects, and orna- 

 ments made of obsidian and jade. The Nahua language was spoken by 

 many of the tribes of Mexico and of these the Aztecs inhabited onl}- the 

 City of Mexico. One case contains facsimile reproductions of ancient 

 _ _. books called codices which were made of deerskin, paper or 



CodlCeS i i rrn i • • i v ■ • -t i i 



cloth. Ihese were historical, religious or civil records and 

 the Spanish burned hundreds of them in their efforts to destroy the native 

 religion. The so-called sacrificial stone or the "Stone of Tizoc" has carved 

 around it records of Aztec conquests of various cities. The 

 „. "Calendar Stone" on the south wall, was found in the City 



of Mexico and the original is now in the museum of that city. 

 Other culture areas in Mexico are shown by the names Tarascan, Zapo- 

 tecan, etc. The Tarascan is situated mostly in the states of Michoacan 

 and Jalisco. The most interesting objects from this area are 

 -j funeral urns which represent men and women in their every- 



day dress. The modeling is very peculiar. The Zapotecan 

 culture area is situated in Southern Mexico and the most famous ruins are 



