Copies of wall paintings from CacaxtlaThis archaeological site has extraordinary mural paintings depicting the battles fought by the Olmec-Xicalanca, who built this city fortress with other groups, as well as other key events in their history. |
Particularly striking are the murals of the Battle and of the Bird man standing on the feathered serpent and the Jaguar knight--the two depicted here. The Bird man (center) is a young warrior dressed in a full bird suit from headdress to wings to feet.
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Small sculptures from Xochicalco |
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Center: Head of guacamaya (macaw) from XochicalcoLate Classic. Height: 55cm The people in this area worshiped this bird as a form of the sun.It is thought that this stone object was used as a score marker in the ball games. |
Right: bat brazierClay. This work has parallels with Zapotec works, with whom the inhabitants of Xochicalco had trading connections. |
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Three stelae with symbolic elements found in Xochicalco in the Building of the Stelae Epiclassic. Basalt, about 140 cm high. |
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Stele 1 with the image of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, a deity associated with Venus |
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Stele 2 with TlálocThe god of Rain appears on this stele wearing a fantastic mask with a flower on his tongue. |
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Atlante, depicting a warrior, found at TulaEarly Post Classic. Stone, height: 4.6M Four columns, which would have supported the roof of the first chamber at the sanctuary of the Temple of Quetzalcóatl were found in the 1940s at Tula. In battle gear, this warrior holds an átlatl or dart launcher, carries darts in his left hand, bears a curved sword, and holds bags of copal, a kind of incense. On his chest he wears the stylized butterfly emblem of the Toltec. |
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Center: Stone of the four glyphsThis stone relief from Xochicalco measures time with the bar and dot numbering system--upper register signifies the date Four Rabbit. |
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