Moteuczoma, was the Emperor of the Aztec civilization between the years 1502-1520, making him the second to last ruler of the Aztec. He encouraged social code through ornaments. Ornaments worn by people of higher rank were intricately designed, in contrast to the tubular labrets shown in the Codex Mendoza. He was at the top as the huei tlahtoqueh, then his council of four, and finally the pipiltin. Based on this ranking, The wearer of the Labrets conveyed the same level of importance to the Labret. As a king, he wore three ornaments which was a part of his iconography- the royal diadem (xiuhuitzolli), nose plug (yaxa xihuitl or xiuhyacamitl), and ear plug. Ornaments conveyed the emblems of Aztec royalty. During his ceremony, Moteuczoma …show more content…
also gave royal attire to the loyal kings and lords such as diadems, bracelets, ear ornaments, labrets, and nose plugs .
The ceremony for both Moteuczoma and his lords would last more than one day, creating a festival of celebration. Each day the kings and Moteuczoma were given one piece of attire. Labrets were one of the objects that were presented during this accession ceremony. As ruler, he had an array of labrets because of the need to wear Labrets during battles and public ceremonies. The difference between the ornaments between Moteuczoma’s and the others were the color and material; the labrets worn by Moteuczoma varied in material including crystal, turquoise, green stone, and gold. There is evidence of other labret designs he wore including eagle and serpent designs. Because Moteuczoma is the only person who had labrets with serpent design, the Serpent Labret is the highest ranked labret, among the labrets with animal design. This poses a problem with the Eagle …show more content…
Labret. The Eagle labret asserts the wearer as a warrior.
The eagle was considered one of most ‘powerful predators of Mexico’; this labret represented the Golden Eagle which was connected with the warriors and the sun. Because of this, the eagle was used as a symbol for their military order to convey their role as a protector of the Aztec people. The eagle labret also was associated with the highest ranking military order. It is unclear what kind of labret is being portrayed ; there exist two kinds of eagle labret - the teocuitlaquuhtentetl and quahtempilolli coztic teocuitlatl . The former meant a gold eagle lip plug , that was used as part of the royal dance regalia. The latter meant a gold eagle lip dangler, that was used as a military insignia for the rulers and captains. It is unclear if the captains were part of the pipiltin. Because there is evidence stating Moteuczoma wearing eagle labrets, the Eagle labret could have the same rank as the Serpent Labret. If he wore this labret, then it would convey his ability as a warrior and elevating the rank of the Eagle labret. If the wearer was just a warrior , then the Labret would rank
last. Because of his inclusion in the council of four, The Labret worn by Nezahualcoyotl ranks as second important labret. An image of Nezahualcoyotl wearing a labret is conveyed within the Codex Ixtlilxochitl. He was the fourth ruler of Tetzcoco and known as the poet king of Tetzcoco. Tetzcoco was the second most powerful city within the Aztec Empire wore similar dress attire of a warrior: with a gold labret, feathered shield, and elaborate headdress.. This is the only visual evidence of someone , who was highly ranked and identifiable , wearing an elaborate labret in the design of an animal motif . The Labret worn by Nezahualcoyotl , is the Labret with an animal head There have been debates on which Labret is being depicted in the Codex . Within ‘On Lips of Others’ , Patrick Hajovsky believes it is the Golden Eagle Lip plug, located in the Fondazione Torino Musei. In the Dumbarton Oaks catalog , they convey that the labret in the form of an animal head was the one worn by Nezahualcoyotl. In the sketch found in the Dumbarton Oaks Catalogue, is a close up of Nezahualcoyotl. It mirrors the depiction shown within the codex but, focuses on the head. Besides the defined beak , there are no other indications that, the labret being depicted is the labret from Torino. The Labret within the sketch has three sections of hair , that is sticking up and with no indication of feathers on the face . The section above the beak labret within the sketch is propped up, while the torino Labret is flat. By implementing teeth and ears, the craftsman of the Labret is conveying that the serpent is part jaguar with the ability to communicate. The first distinctive jaguar quality shown in the Labret is the teeth. On each side of the mouth , there is a total of eight, sharp teeth- four on the top and four on the bottom. The teeth on the bottom and upper section do not overlap - there is a pattern between the teeth: there is no empty space between the teeth. The function of the teeth is the ability to form words and create speech that carries valuable information, along with the tongue. The other oddity of the Serpent Labret is the appearance of the external ears of the snake. The two ears are both next to the eyes of the serpent. The ears are formed by a line that goes down the upper section of the eyes, creates a small curve and then creates a curve in the opposite direction of the eye. The placement of the ears as part of the serpent’s profile is unusual for a snake thus contributing to the jaguar image. By possessing those qualities, the serpent is able to use the ear and teeth in relation to communication. The serpent is conveying that it has the strength to attack an enemy, with the shape of his body and the visibility of the fangs. The Serpent is very small, not a full length scale of a serpent; the serpent is in a ‘s’ shape position that ends where the tracheal lungs of the snake would be. By creating a ‘S’ shape the snake is using the back part of his body to stand up. The serpent is showing its ability to use its own strength to uphold its posture like this. By standing up, the snake is also displaying its ability to have a better angle to shoot his weapon. The mouth of the snake is open - displaying teeth. In the middle section, there are two teeth flanking the sides that are sharp. These teeth are more than twice the size of the teeth hidden behind the tongue. The snake is in a position that is ready to attack and is one second away from releasing its venomous liquid through its fangs. This was a warning to anyone who was under the wearers authority: if anyone didn’t obey the voice of the wearer of the Labret, then there would be dire consequences. Those consequences would be a result of his strength.
The durability of clay has brought forth an immense abundance of Greek pottery, a craft mastered by Athenian artists. Archeologists have found hundreds of varieties in creation, shape, function, style, and artwork in Archaic vases. The museum has been blessed with one of these priceless artifacts; it is the duty of this establishment to accumulate as much data as possible surrounding the vase. In first identifying technique, dimensions, and condition, as well as describing shape, ornament, and figural scenery, one may then begin to analyze the vase. This serves the general purpose of understanding where the artifact stands in Greek culture and history. Through the examination and research of figural scenes, it is then possible to compare these to other scenes and styles of the same and other painters. Finally, one can then hypothesize where, why, and how this piece was used.
... will”, which gives Cortes all the power of the kingdom. Plus, Moctezuma is willing to give all the gold to Cortes without interfer. After all the lecture, Moctezuma take off, Cortes and his soldiers rest. All this was recorded during the presence of the great Moctezuma and the conquistador Hernan cortes, which later on would conquer Aztec’s empire, a thing that Moctezuma was afraid.
... A few photos of Tenochtitlan and warriors headdresses, clubs and obsidian blades would increase the pleasure 10 fold. Also in places the author tends to divert to other Ameriindian cultures and use their ritual practices as examples. These comparisons can bring the ritual practices of a 500 year extant culture into modern day belief.
The Ancient Egyptian sculpture, “Statue of Nykara and His Family”, was sculpted during the late fifth dynasty. The sculpture is a depiction of Nykara, his wife, Nubkau, and son, Ankhma-Re. The statue is in poor condition with pieces of limestone missing and chips on the three subject’s faces and bodies. The painted limestone shows the conventional colors for the male and female subjects. There is a clear discoloration among Nykara and his son’s bodies. The brownish red color they once were has eroded to a light yellowish color, which resembles the purposeful color of Nykara’s wife. The hieroglyphs on Nykara’s seat insinuate that the sculpture is meant to be viewed from the front view. This is also evident by the way the three subjects are facing forward in frontal view. There are hieroglyphs on both the chair and base of the statue near Nykara’s wife and son’s feet.
During 1325 a newly homeless Aztec tribe who were chased away by the angry ruler/father of a princess they sacrificed to the sun god, were traveling through swamps . they saw a small island with an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake. This was told to be a sign of where the tribe was to create their new home. This new city was named Tenochtitlan. Soon this will become the capital of the Aztec empire. Tenochtitlan started out with only a temple to worship the war god Huitzilopochtli, and huts for the tribesmen.
1) The Aztecs, like most societies, had a type of class structure. There were two main classes. The first was the class of the nobles or the pilli. The second class were the commoners or the macehaulli. There were also many subsets to these groups that held different responsibilities in societal life. Nobility was thought to be mostly hereditary. The nobles were educated from a young age to be leaders in Aztec society. However, the commoners had a variety of occupational choices. They were the farmers, merchants, and could even be athletes. Art, social events, and religion were all a huge part of Aztec culture. The Aztecs had a game known as Ullamaliztli and the athletes that played in these games were a kind of celebrity in Aztec culture. One interesting thing about their culture was the mandatory education. Once the women and the men were properly educated it would be time to marry. Marriages in Aztec culture were arranged and were also very closely intertwined with religion. There are many fascinating things about the Aztec culture, but perhaps the most important to them was their religion.
The pieces of sculpture are both carved using the subtractive method of sculpting from stone. However, the types of stone used were very different. The sculpture of Mycerinus and Kha-merer-nebty II was carved from a stone called greywacke, a dark colored, very hard stone the Egyptians prized for sculpture despite the fact t...
The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people that lived in the area of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th century. It is said that Aztecs came from a place called Aztlan. Aztlan was the Aztec's homeland, nobody knows exactly where it was, but it is believed that Aztlan lies somewhere to the north of Mexico. Some experts claim that Aztlan is a mythical place. According to Aztec legends Huitzilopochtli, their god of war and of the sun, told them to leave Aztlan and to wander until they saw an eagle on a cactus budding out of a rock and eating a snake. The Aztecs traveled many years to find the legend that Huitzilopochtli had told. They left Aztlan in the 12th century. They built their settlements in the Valley of Mexico by Lake Texcoco. There were other Indian tribes living in the area when the Aztecs arrived. The Aztecs called their settlement Tenochtitlan. By the time they settled after two centuries of voyage they called themselves by a different name, the Mexica, but the term Aztec has been used as a ...
...es (kneeling) and daily rituals of weaving and cooking symbolized the power of Aztec women. Moreover, the power of a god was bestowed upon them only when they were depicted with armor. The women would spend long days on their knees performing their duties. The ritual of kneeling before the gods, were sought as being in a higher state. For example, I found it very interesting how these women were associated with religion while performing their daily tasks but had to replace their skilled tools with military instruments.
The wide rimmed ring of space located at the top of the lekythos was commonly decorated with a pattern called palmette. Discovering a palmette pattern is not unusual to find on a lekythos, and many other types of ancient Greek pottery. The different variations in color, design, pattern, intricacy and brushstroke can help determine the ancient painter. Because the colors were not fired directly on the white-ground, they are not necessarily as permanent as the black gloss; therefore overtime the vivid colors and detailed decoration will
The Texas Indians’ appearance changed to suit the hunting as well as culture. Men would have their nipples perforated to hold a reed of an arrow. This would steady the reed; and make their shot more accurate. Their nose was perforated as well; which held a piece of cane. This was for a type of primitive jewelry which helped personify their culture. As de Gama saw this, he was both awed and arrogant to the native
The Aztecs believed they owed the gods everything for creating them and the world around them, therefore the gods needed to be fed or nourished daily. To honor their gods and show their gratitude they performed human sacrifices by offering hearts and blood. In doing so, they believed human sacrifices would ensure their existence to the world, and in turn help them in their after life. Aztecs also saw these rituals as a way to send a political message to control their own citizens and instill fear in their foreign neighbors. These sacrifices were performed by a specialized priest at the great temple, the Huey Teocalli, at the very top of the pyramid for all to witness. The heart was cut out while the victim was still alive. The still beating heart would then be burned in offering to the chosen god. Afterward, the body was thrown down the stairs of the pyramid where the head was then cut off and placed on a skull rack, known as a Tzompantli, displayed for all to see. (Ancient History
The religious building of the Aztecs were similar to the pyramids of Egypt except they were cut by large stairways with banisters formed resembling giant serpents which showed the way to the summit in which was a shrine. In the pyramid marked a skull rack, pointed stakes. Surrounded by the square were the priest’s houses. The Aztecs writings were called codices. These writings were written on many different things such as paper, stone, or by using hieroglyphs. The writings consisted of the history and geography of the Aztecs.
The Aztec civilization was a very complex society that was feared and known well for their various gory sacrifices done to please their many gods in their polytheistic religion. The much feared civilization began by the exile of one of the two Toltec leaders, which lead to the decline of the Toltec state that was later replaced by Mexica, or the Aztecs. According to the Aztecs, the land chosen to build their main city was chosen by the portrayal of an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. Through military might, the Aztecs managed to become the most powerful civilization in the mid-fourteenth century. They maintained their power through military might and the fear they caused other civilizations because of the human sacrifices they performed on their captured victims.
My family always sewed one yellow bead somewhere on our regalia. But we always hid it so that you had to search really hard to find it” (Alexie, 2003, para.8).