AZTECS 



53 



the elaborately sculptunMl boulder that may have served as an ahnr. It 



represents a two-headed monster ov(M*laid witli sexcral layers of ornament. 



Sculpture from Paleiuiue and other cities is also shown. 



The second or architectural period of Maya art is exemplified in the 



(•o])\ of the ])ainte(l scul])tures of the Temple of the Ja<niars 

 Chichenltza ' ., • i i ti i • 



at ( Incheii Itza. Here are shown warriors m i)r()cessi()n 



who seem to be comiuii- to worship a serpent god. Pra\'ers are represented 



as coming from their lips. This sculpture shows strong exidence of Mexican 



influence in certain of its details. 



Next in order is the Xahua culture represented in the alcove cases by 

 ancient pottery, musical instruments, copper objects and ornaments of 

 obsidian and jade. One case contains facsimile reproductions of native 

 books, or codices, which were painted free hand on strips of deerskin, paper 

 or cloth. Several original documents are also exhibited. The Spaniards, 

 in their zeal to destroy the native religion, l)urned hundreds of these books 

 which recorded ceremonial rites and historical events by means of pictures 

 and hieroglyphs. The Xahua culture extended through many centuries 

 leaving remains, such as pottery, which are found deposited in distinct 

 layers, one above the other. In the valley of Mexico there are three so- 

 called culture horizons, the last being that of the Aztecs. There is no good 

 reason to believe that any connection in art or religion existed between 

 Mexico and any part of the Old World. 



The Aztecs founded their capital city, called Tenochtitan (Mexico 

 City), in the year 1325, and had a short but brilhant history. 

 Before the arrival of Cortez, in 1519, they had reduced most 

 of the provinces of central ^lexico. The sacrificial stone, or Stone of Tizoc, 

 is a record of some of their principal conquests made before 1487. The 

 Calendar Stone is a graphic representation of the four prehistoric creations 

 and destructions of the world as well as symbol of the sun and a record of 

 the divisions of the year. The statue of Coatlicue, the mother of the two 

 principal Aztec gods, is a curious figure, made up of serpents. 

 All three sculptures were originally in the Great Temple 

 enclosure and are now in the ^Mexican National Museum. 



The funeral urns of this region are highly conxentionalized figures. 

 A cruciform tomb at Guiaroo, near the ruins of Mitla, is shown by a model 

 at this end of the room. 



Aztecs 



Calendar Stone 



THE HEAD OF THE AZTEC EARTH GODDESS 

 Head of a rattlesnake, rattlesnake as shown in Aztec carvings, outline of head of Earth Goddess. 

 In the real snake the fangs do not show unless the mouth is open. In the Aztec figure two fangs are 

 shown, one of these being a reserve fang that comes forward to take the place of the fang in use should 

 that be lost 



