Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Corbelled Arch

This a corbel arch from the House of Bats in Copan. They are found in he Great Pyramids in Egypt, the temples of Asia and at this site in Honduras. Corbelled arch in Cambodia. Corbelled arch at Sayil in the Puuc style - Yucatan, Mexico. This ancient design for an arch dates the era during which the style was used in the Old and New Worlds. These buildings were constructed before the invention of the rounded Roman arch. Ancient corbel arch - Mycenaean. Mayan arch. Yucatan - Puuc style arch. Corbelled arches in Torina, Mexico.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Chaco Canyon Kiva and Bandurria, Peru

"Casa Riconada in Chaco Canyon is situated to magnetic north and marks the sunrise on the winter solstice as well as the lunar standstill. It is a magical place of light and sound. It was specifically chosen as a sacred ceremonial site. This photo shows light on the floor of this great Kiva." Bandurria, Peru - Caral and Bandurria are the oldest civilization in the Americas. Compare to the Grand Kiva at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Mayan Ballcourt Player

Mayan ballplayer, note his huge rubber belt for bouncing the ball through the small hoop on the wall of the stone ball court.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Paracas Textiles and Izapa, Mexico

"LIMA, PERU—Sweden will return the first four of 89 embroidered Paracas textiles to Peru later this month, according to a report in The New York Times. The 2,500-year-old textiles, which were smuggled out of Peru in the 1930s by the Swedish consul, have been displayed in the National Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg. Among the items the mayor of Gothenburg will hand over to Peru’s vice minister of cultural patrimony is a woven mummy’s cloak decorated with tiles of animals that may represent time periods or the seasons. The process of repatriation will be completed in 2021." Note the Monster Mask motif on the feet of the jaguar. This is a Peruvian trait that shows up in the art of Mexico. From Izapa, Mexico - one of the stela carvings there. Note the Monster Mask shoes. I asked one of my Aztec dancer friends to describe this footwear, he said, "Those are Alligator Shoes" - these are not your usual alligator shoes, not the white man`s version!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Olmec Stone Heads of Veracruz, Mexico

Are these portraits of the leaders of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies who were given land in the territory of the Nephites? “Book of Mormon Story: The Honest People of Ammon”- A retelling of the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies - “The Buried Weapons”.