Monday, July 15, 2013

Nov 2012: Where I saw a dismembered Goddess

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After seeing the templo major, I move into the museum. Its a brand spanking new museum with objects dramatically displayed. Very nice

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A rock carved in the form of a shell

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A vase with the shape of a man or a god baked into it. I really liked this one.

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the man needs to brush his teeth

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I have no idea what this is. An eagle? vulture? what on earth?

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a sacrificial knife

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hmmmm, somebody isnt happy.

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A massive stone depiction of one of the Gods.

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The wall of skulls, this was one awesome display.  

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This is a sculpture of the God Xolotl, god of duplicity. Cool. lol.

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This is an censer, used to burn copal, a resin which expels an aromatic smoke. Nice.

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Then this amazing unit.

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Its a statue of a golden eagle with a cavity for sacred offerings, frequently for the ripped out hearts of sacrificial victims

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that eye looks evil

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Pretty good work, eh? cant think of it being hundreds of years old and still exhibiting a deep malevolence. I reached out and touched it and have to admit that it felt cold..

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Even though its damaged, but still… 

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One of the offerings to the Templo. In the form of a well kind of structure. Various bits and bobs, knives, statues, pots, animals, etc. 

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That’s how it was built up. In layers..

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the previous photo essay showed what was inside the previous pyramids..

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the black stone where sacrifices were made and the other statue.

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Hey, nice mooch..and beard

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More offerings.

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A beautiful vase…funerary?

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This is the Earth Deity, Tialtecuhtli, in the feminine version. She is back to the front, with head turned over and facing down and in the squatting childbirth position. With curly hair, a knife coming out of her mouth and hands in the shape of a claw. Cool beans.

 

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Stone masks, mainly representing gods or elements like water/clouds/corn, etc.

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Face knives which were used for human sacrifice. Emmmm

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More knives, whistles, flutes, etc. etc.

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And the first glimpse of the dismembered god.

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the feathered serpent head

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A burial vase in the shape of a dog.

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Bone fragments..

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a statue showing the flaying of a prisoner’s skin. Its related to you needing to remove the leaves from mature corn cobs. Wow, that’s one impressive leap of logic..

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This is a brazier representing the God Tlaloc, with tears from his eyes. He isn't happy.

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The famous olmec mask..brilliant work, in stone even.  More face masks..on the right, in different stone

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Another brilliant pot with a face..

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I go up one level and then come face to face this fellow.

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The statue is about 4.5 feet high..about meter and half..

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Some serious claws there old chap

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With the liver hanging out…

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the holes in the head were to be used to plait hair into the skull. Amazing work, eh? with clay even.

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And then opposite him was this Eagle Warrior. 

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Absolutely amazing work.

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A group of sculptures which were apparently put in Stage III, around 1431AD, when they started construction of the Stage IV..

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A fire serpent, Huitzilopochtli’s mythical weapon. Yes, I wouldn't want to tangle with a fire serpent.

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Checking out some glyphs..

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Another beautiful relief carving…

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And peeking over to see the God of War Huitzilopochtli

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And here’s the dismembered God from above.

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Amazing sight, eh? The Earth Goddess, pictured above, was pregnant, so her children were embarrassed. Then the God of War, Huitzilopochtli, sprang from her womb fully formed and in full battle armour, and then dismembered Coyolxauhqui, whose remains can be seen here. Their gods didnt faff about, did they?

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Peering out at the Templo Major.

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A grave and with what looks like alligators and other grave offerings.. 

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This is a replica of the statue which I saw outside. Of the God of Rain.

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More braziers with the forms of various gods

 

 

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How did they look? and walk? and shop? and and and…amazing stuff.

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A manhole, the ancients had some very interesting plumbing engineering out there…

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And I come to the end of the museum…final views. the museum is amazing, seriously good. But why on earth cant I take a bottle of water, eh? grumbling I leave the museum..

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