Mesoamerican Art and Design

I have become deeply fascinated in the ancient history of Mesoamerica - thats ancient Mexico, Guatamala and Belieze - since visiting the Museo de Anthropologio (anthropology museum) in Mexico City. Previously I had come across Aztec and Mayan imagery, and thought it an interesting subject, however the visit to this museum taught me how to analyse the images before me and the reasons and symbolism around certain designs and shapes.

Most interestingly I discovered that the Aztec Calender's many patterns and symbols have meaning, but most importantly meaning beyond that of the Aztec culture. The Aztecs are well known to have conquered civilisations and stolen their cultural and religious icons. The calender, is acually not used as a calender at all but is a sacrifical alter known at the 'sun stone'. The face in the middle is the face of the sun (Tonatiuh) was the lord of heaven around which tokk place all daily or periodic phenomena. The crown, nose pendant, earings and neaclace showed that the god was wealthy and worthy. Wrinkles illustrated wiseness and maturity and the tonge like an obsidian knife indicated the need of being fed with blood and human hearts. These ideas have been followed through history, and have been taken from pervious cultures.

The faces of these dolls, ornaments were considered to be beautiful because they were original. When a child was young and destined to be a religious being (like a priest) or royal the parents used to bandage their heads up so that they would grow disproportionally, long heads that were flat at the back. They would also pierce their ears with enormous rounded earings of Jade or Gold - a trait from the Gods. People with disfigurements or disabilities such as Downs Syndrome were therefore considered to be of the highest order. They were looked up to not prejudiced against like most other cultures - this I think is rather a beautiful concept.

Mesoamerican artifacts have so much to show us about the lives and symbolism of the people that lived in what we would call a savage and cruel civilisation.