|
|
Mayan Tablet of the Foliated Tree of Life
Temple of the Foliated Cross, Palenque, Mexico. 698 A.D. The original of this tablet is located in the temple of the foliated cross, one of the three temples in Palenque, known as the Group of the Cross, built by King Chan-Bahlum to commemorate and celebrate his accession rites to the throne after the death of his father, king Pacal. The tablet shows Chan Bahlum on the left side, dressed simply with a loin cloth and his long hair wrapped in readiness to don the heavy headdress of kingship. His father Pacal stands on the other side, dressed in burial apparel. Pacal holds the insignia of royal power, the passing of authority will occur at the end of ten days of accession rites. In the center we see a variant of the tree of life formed by a maize plant rising from a band of water and the Kan-cross Waterlily Monster, which symbolizes the waters of the earth as the source of life. In the crown of the tree sits a huge water bird wearing the mask of the Celestial Bird. The branches of the tree are ears of maize manifested as human heads since in Maya tradition, human flesh was made from maize dough. Pacal is shown giving to his son a personified bloodletter, an instrument for bloodletting rituals and vision quests. It drew the blood of the King and brought on the trance that opened the portal to Shivalva (the Maya underworld) and brought forth the Gods. Ready to hang, made from bonded stone, and measures 13”H x 19”W. P-011S
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacal Mayan King Bust
Palenque, Mexico. 692 A.D. King Pacal (also known as Pacal the Great) was born in the year 603 A.D. He was king of the Maya Kingdom of Palenque and is said to have reigned for 67 years until his death at the age of 80. The name "Pacal" means "shield" in the Maya language. Pacal expanded Palenque's power in the western part of the Maya states, and initiated a building program at his capital that produced some of the finest art and architecture of the Maya civilization. He was preceded as ruler of Palenque by his mother Lady Zac-Kuk. As the Palenque dynasty seems to have had Queens only when there was no eligible male heir, Zac-Kuk transfered rulership to her son upon his official maturity. He accended the throne at age 12 on 29 July, 615 A.D. After his death, Pacal the Great was worshiped as a god, and said to communicate with his descendants. His elaborate temple tomb had a stairway down to his crypt, and after this was sealed up it had a long "speaking tube" connected to the temple atop the step-pyramid. The lid of Pacal's tomb, referred to by some as The lid of Palenque, is the most photographed, reproduced and written about stone work of its kind.
Made from bonded stone, measures 11"H. P-018S
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aztec Mask of the Ages of Man Wall Relief - Small
This precolumbian wall hanging is made from bonded stone and measures 5.5"H x 7.5"W. P-015S
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Maya Sacred Haab Solar Calendar Wall Relief
The Maya Calendar here is made from bonded stone and measures 10.5”H. P-005S
|
|
|
|
Feathered Head of Kukulcan Wall Hanging
Pyramid of Quetzalcoaltl, Teotihuacan, Mexico. 300 A.D. One of the great Gods of Ancient Mesoamerica, Quetzalcoatl is a synthesis of serpent and bird. The name means "quetzal serpent". The quetzal was a sacred bird of very beautiful feathers which were used in elite and ritual costumes. relief, bonded stone, antique sandstone finish, ready to hang, 6 1/2"H x 7"D.
P-008S
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aztec Solar Calendar
Antrop. Museum, Mexico City, 1500 AD, wall hanging relief, bonded stone, antique sandstone finish, ready to hang.
|
|
|
|
Small: 11" diameter,
P-090S
|
|
|
|
Large: 17" diameter,
P-001S
|
|
The Aztec calendar set out the mathematical formulas according to which the whole universe was organized and which governed the actions of men and Gods alike. The calendar was consulted by the priests before the Aztecs engaged in any activity--whether farming, warfare, religion or commerce. The Aztecs attributed the invention of the calendar to the God Quetzalcoatl.
|
|
|
|
Maya Vision Serpent Relief
Palenque, Mexico, 800 AD. The maya vision serpent symbolizes the passage of ancestral spirits and the gods of Xibalba (the maya underworld) into our world. In states of ecstasy and usually following penis or tongue bloodletting, particularly as graphically depicted at Yaxchilan, maya mobility invoke the vision serpent. Wall hanging relief, bonded stone, antique sandstone finish, ready to hang, 8"H, P-007S
|
|
|
|
|
