Interregional Interaction in Ancient Mesoamerica, 2019
An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries workin... more An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high-quality books open access for the public good. The open access ISBN for the PDF version of this book is 978-1-60732-983-1; for the ePUB version the open access ISBN is 978-1-60732-982-4. More information about the initiative and links to the open-access version can be found at www.knowledgeunlatched.org.
espanolHace mas de cuatro decadas, H. B. Nicholson comparo la llamada Piedra del Palacio de Xochi... more espanolHace mas de cuatro decadas, H. B. Nicholson comparo la llamada Piedra del Palacio de Xochicalco con una pagina de un codice mesoamericano. Este monumento evoca la bien conocida tradicion cartografica del altiplano central de Mexico en el momento de la conquista espanola, pues presenta numerosas fechas calendaricas y signos toponimicos conectados mediante un camino marcado por huellas de pie. En este articulo exploraremos la evidencia de esta tradicion correspondiente al Epiclasico y discutiremos no solo las caracteristicas fundamentales de la Piedra del Palacio, sino tambien de algunos monumentos procedentes de Xochicalco y otros sitios ubicados en sus inmediaciones EnglishMore than four decades ago, H. B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to a page in a Mesoamerican codex. Showing numerous calendrical dates and toponymic signs connected by a path marked by footprints the monument readily recalls the cartographic tradition that is well-known for th...
Fund og Forskning i Det Kongelige Biblioteks Samlinger, May 19, 2014
Om billedet på papiromslaget se s. 123. Det kronede monogram på kartonomslaget er tegnet af Erik ... more Om billedet på papiromslaget se s. 123. Det kronede monogram på kartonomslaget er tegnet af Erik Ellegaard Frederiksen efter et bind fra Frederik III's bibliotek Om titelvignetten se s. 110-111.
An unpublished collection of Aztec (Late Postclassic central Mexico, ca. 1400-1520) spindle whorl... more An unpublished collection of Aztec (Late Postclassic central Mexico, ca. 1400-1520) spindle whorls (totaling 33 items) with rich iconographic embellishment is the focus of this paper, which will discuss a set of recurring iconographic themes, such as the 'sun disk', 'eagles', 'jade disks or chalchihuites' and 'cloud-scrolls', on the whorls. Previous treatments of spindle whorl imagery have tended to regard such motifs merely as decoration, but here I suggest that the repertoire at hand indicate a limited scope of motifs that share some cosmological and religious significance. In a broader perspective these observations point to the potential mythological underpinnings of activities such as spinning and weaving-which on the surface and from a modern, Western standpoint may seem rather mundane.
More than four decades ago H.B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to ... more More than four decades ago H.B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to a page in a Mesoamerican codex. Showing numerous calendrical dates and toponymic signs connected by a path marked by footprints the monument readily recalls the cartographic tradition that is well-known for the central Mexican highlands at the time of the Spanish conquest. In this paper we explore the Epiclassic evidence of this tradition, discussing not only central features of the Palace Stone, but also additional monuments from Xochicalco and sites in the vicinity, such as the recently discovered Tetlama stela, that belong to the same genre. Thus, we provide a preliminary analysis of the formal features and contents of these fascinating monuments that record an important narrative history and founding myth of Xochicalco and some of its satellite communities. Furthermore, we shall also introduce evidence that suggests that the conventions of this tradition can ultimately be traced back...
I et forsog pa bedre at forsta et begreb og kulturelt faenomen som imperialisme, som for mange ve... more I et forsog pa bedre at forsta et begreb og kulturelt faenomen som imperialisme, som for mange vel primaert forbindes med det romerske imperium, den tidligere britiske kolonimagt eller USA’s enorme politiske og kulturelle indflydelse pa det meste af kloden i dag, er det oplagt at soge bort fra nyere tid, fra den vestlige verden – ja, fra hele den sakaldte ’gamle’ verden. Hvis vi vender os mod de praecolumbianske civilisationer i Mesoamerika og Andesomradet i Sydamerika, finder vi kulturer, der formaede at etablere nogle af de storste imperier i verdenshistorien, fx inkaernes imperium, der rakte fra Ecuador i nord til Chile og Argentina i syd. Netop de praecolumbianske imperier bor interessere os i saerlig grad, eftersom de udvikledes selvstaendigt og uden kontakt til og pavirkning fra den gamle verden. Ingen silkevej spundet af varer og ideer bandt Amerika sammen med Asien og Europa. Med astronomen Anthony Avenis ord: Disse [indianske] kulturer var totalt isolerede fra det vestlige ...
Headdresses, as opulent markers of rank and affiliation, offer a unique opportunity to examine so... more Headdresses, as opulent markers of rank and affiliation, offer a unique opportunity to examine sociopolitical roles and offices at Teotihuacan. In particular, in light of the few surviving glyphic texts from the site, the representations of headdresses, either in isolation, as part ritual investitures, or actively worn by individuals, are in fact one of the few ways to achieve a deeper understanding of the nature, structure, and institutional aspects of social stations and in the ancient metropolis. In this paper, we will first discuss the elemental properties of headdresses in Teotihuacan iconography as well as the rites of accession upon which these symbolic markers were acquired. Thereafter, we suggest that several kinds of headdresses are also associated with specific named houses at Teotihuacan, which indicate their close affiliation with certain powerful institutions. Finally, we focus on some of the specific types of headdresses, and especially those qualified by the so-calle...
The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influenc... more The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influence, and intricately decorated polychrome murals. The latter are the focus of the present study, in particular the unique landscape scene from Murals 2 and 3 from Portico 1 of the North Patio of the Atetelco residential compound that depicts a row of toponymic hill signs. The three hills have identical qualifying elements embedded, identified as combinations of an owl and a spearthrower. The murals thus make a repeated reference to a place named “Spearthrower Owl Hill.” The dating of the murals to the Early Xolalpan phase (ca. A.D. 350–450) makes them contemporary with the so-called Teotihuacan entrada into the Maya lowland sites such as Tikal, where hieroglyphic texts make mention of a Teotihuacan-affiliated individual known as “Spearthrower Owl.” From these findings—and based on Mesoamerican naming practices—we go on to suggest that the Atetelco toponym and the historical individual shar...
The cultural tradition of stuccoed and polychromatic murals in central Mexico dates back to Early... more The cultural tradition of stuccoed and polychromatic murals in central Mexico dates back to Early Classic Teotihuacan and continued into the subsequent Epiclassic period, with the stunning murals from Cacaxtla as the most famous and well-studied example. In this paper, we present three examples of stuccoed and richly painted benches or thrones from the mayor Epiclassic site of Xochicalco in the Mexican state of Morelos. A careful iconographic and epigraphic analysis of the imagery, as well as the associated hieroglyphic signs from one of the benches, leads us to suggest that these benches played a pivotal role in displaying the religious, mythological, and historical underpinnings of hierarchical power at Xochicalco. Based on comparisons with benches and seats from Classic Maya culture and, in particular, the contemporaneous Terminal Classic city of Chichen Itza, which was deeply involved in interregional relations with central Mexico, we also suggest that the Xochicalco benches may...
Mythic narratives occupy a privileged position in human cultures, and relate not only the creatio... more Mythic narratives occupy a privileged position in human cultures, and relate not only the creation of the world, plants, animals and people, but also the origin of social values, rituals and institutions. The pre-eminence given to myths and their explanatory value, means that these narratives are much more than the recollection of fantastic events in the deep past. The study of myths have relied on a wide range of approaches, variously stipulating that these are the product of the social unconscious, the fabricated fantasies of the rulers to bolster their claims to power, or the indistinct recollections of actual events in the distant past — beyond the reaches of orally-transmitted extra-social memory. Here we present a particular mythic motif, involving the defeat of a giant celestial bird, with solar attributes, at the hands of a culture hero or heroic twins. While we will focus on this motif and its distribution across Mesoamerican cultures, it bears remarking that similar motifs...
P å en af vaeggene i det midterste af de tre udstillingsrum, der i dag rummer Nationalmuseets uds... more P å en af vaeggene i det midterste af de tre udstillingsrum, der i dag rummer Nationalmuseets udstilling af indianske genstande, haenger, hvad der ved første øjekast blot ligner et gammelt slidt kort (Ill.1). Det er tydeligvis blevet foldet ud og sammen et utal af gange. En raekke farvelagte figurer dominerer midten af kortet, og hvad der ligner små, saere tegninger pryder kanterne. Et par kirke-lignende bygninger springer desuden i øjnene. Et lille skilt oplyser: "Billedhåndskrift. Mexico 1500-1600. I Mexico anvendte saerligt uddannede embedsmaend både billedskrift og billeder til at skildre landets historie og geografi. Kortet her viser det såkaldte Blomsterbjerg, som det dog ikke har vaeret muligt at placere geografisk. Kirkerne og bogstaverne vidner om, at kortet er blevet til efter spaniernes ankomst." Vi ved, at det gamle dokument kom til Danmark i 1869, men i protokollen på Etnografisk Samling står blot: "En Tegning under Benaevnelse: Image de l'Antiquité du Mexique, modtaget fra Herr Schleiden ved Generalkonsul Bockelmann, Hamburg," og derudover er det uvist praecist, hvordan dokumentet fandt vej fra Xochitepec, en mixtekisk by i det sydlige Oaxaca i Mexico, til Danmark. 1 Men at der på Nationalmuseet befinder sig et eksempel 7 Bernardino de Sahagún: Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain.
The Myths of the Popol Vuh in Cosmology, Art, and Ritual (edited by H. Moyes, A. Christenson y F. Sachse), pp. 295-314. University Press of Colorado, Louisville. , 2021
Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 19 (4): 459-474, 2008
The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influenc... more The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influence, and intricately decorated polychrome murals. The latter are the focus of the present study, in particular the unique landscape scene from Murals 2 and 3 from Portico 1 of the North Patio of the Atetelco residential compound that depicts a row of toponymic hill signs. The three hills have identical qualifying elements embedded, identified as combinations of an owl and a spearthrower. The murals thus make a repeated reference to a place named “Spearthrower Owl Hill.” The dating of the murals to the Early Xolalpan phase (ca. A.D. 350–450) makes them contemporary with the so-called Teotihuacan entrada into the Maya lowland sites such as Tikal, where hieroglyphic texts make mention of a Teotihuacan-affiliated individual known as “Spearthrower Owl.” From these findings—and based on Mesoamerican naming practices—we go on to suggest that the Atetelco toponym and the historical individual share the name of a common forebear, possibly that of a previously unidentified Teotihuacan martial patron deity. As such, the Early Classic Teotihuacan “Spearthrower Owl” deity has much in common with the legendary Huitzilopochtli of the Late Postclassic Mexica. Our reexamination of the murals from Atetelco shows the enormous potential that further studies in Teotihuacan writing and iconography still have for our understanding of the history and religion of this major Mesoamerican site.
In the present essay, we explore the importance of pyrolatry in the archaeological record, as wel... more In the present essay, we explore the importance of pyrolatry in the archaeological record, as well as in the iconography and epigraphic corpus of Early Classic Teotihuacan (ca. AD 1–650). We will focus on the role of fire in rituals related to transition and transformation, review the evidence of New Fire rituals that appear to have been centered on the Pyramid of the Sun, and discuss the role of fire as a transformative agent in funer-ary rituals at Teotihuacan. This discussion builds on Karl Taube's seminal work on the iconography of elaborate, theater-style incense burners as well as on the religious and metaphorical significance of butterflies as these pertain to a cult of elite warriors (Taube 2000). We wish to emphasize the conceptual overlap between the cremation of the bundled years that have expired and human mortuary bundles. This may add to our understanding of years and time intervals as personified entities, which could be born, named, and enthroned and would eventually die and undergo the same con-flagratory transformation as prominent human beings. In addition, we offer a reexamination of the Late Postclassic Aztec perception of Teotihuacan as the place where the sun was created by fire rituals and immolation, and we suggest that the above-mentioned aspects may indeed be traced all the way back to Teotihuacan.
Su obra y su legado fueron muy importantes y llegaron a convertirse en parte de la cultura de los... more Su obra y su legado fueron muy importantes y llegaron a convertirse en parte de la cultura de los habitantes del pueblo purépecha porque Fray Jacobo desarrolló su labor en diversos lugares como Tzintzuntzan, Tarecuato, Zacapu, Peribán y un largo etcétera, encauzando su labor misionera con una visión de libertad y de reconocimiento a los derechos de los habitantes de los pueblos originarios muy avanzada para la época, ya que promovió más que cualquier otro evangelizador el derecho a que los pobladores indígenas recibieran los sacramentos de la nueva fe sin restricciones, incluyendo no sólo el bautismo, la comunión y el matrimonio, sino algo tan revolucionario como el derecho a ser ordenados sacerdotes, lo cual le generó problemas con miembros de su propia orden y del clero secular.
Interregional Interaction in Ancient Mesoamerica, 2019
An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries workin... more An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high-quality books open access for the public good. The open access ISBN for the PDF version of this book is 978-1-60732-983-1; for the ePUB version the open access ISBN is 978-1-60732-982-4. More information about the initiative and links to the open-access version can be found at www.knowledgeunlatched.org.
espanolHace mas de cuatro decadas, H. B. Nicholson comparo la llamada Piedra del Palacio de Xochi... more espanolHace mas de cuatro decadas, H. B. Nicholson comparo la llamada Piedra del Palacio de Xochicalco con una pagina de un codice mesoamericano. Este monumento evoca la bien conocida tradicion cartografica del altiplano central de Mexico en el momento de la conquista espanola, pues presenta numerosas fechas calendaricas y signos toponimicos conectados mediante un camino marcado por huellas de pie. En este articulo exploraremos la evidencia de esta tradicion correspondiente al Epiclasico y discutiremos no solo las caracteristicas fundamentales de la Piedra del Palacio, sino tambien de algunos monumentos procedentes de Xochicalco y otros sitios ubicados en sus inmediaciones EnglishMore than four decades ago, H. B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to a page in a Mesoamerican codex. Showing numerous calendrical dates and toponymic signs connected by a path marked by footprints the monument readily recalls the cartographic tradition that is well-known for th...
Fund og Forskning i Det Kongelige Biblioteks Samlinger, May 19, 2014
Om billedet på papiromslaget se s. 123. Det kronede monogram på kartonomslaget er tegnet af Erik ... more Om billedet på papiromslaget se s. 123. Det kronede monogram på kartonomslaget er tegnet af Erik Ellegaard Frederiksen efter et bind fra Frederik III's bibliotek Om titelvignetten se s. 110-111.
An unpublished collection of Aztec (Late Postclassic central Mexico, ca. 1400-1520) spindle whorl... more An unpublished collection of Aztec (Late Postclassic central Mexico, ca. 1400-1520) spindle whorls (totaling 33 items) with rich iconographic embellishment is the focus of this paper, which will discuss a set of recurring iconographic themes, such as the 'sun disk', 'eagles', 'jade disks or chalchihuites' and 'cloud-scrolls', on the whorls. Previous treatments of spindle whorl imagery have tended to regard such motifs merely as decoration, but here I suggest that the repertoire at hand indicate a limited scope of motifs that share some cosmological and religious significance. In a broader perspective these observations point to the potential mythological underpinnings of activities such as spinning and weaving-which on the surface and from a modern, Western standpoint may seem rather mundane.
More than four decades ago H.B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to ... more More than four decades ago H.B. Nicholson compared the so-called Palace Stone from Xochicalco to a page in a Mesoamerican codex. Showing numerous calendrical dates and toponymic signs connected by a path marked by footprints the monument readily recalls the cartographic tradition that is well-known for the central Mexican highlands at the time of the Spanish conquest. In this paper we explore the Epiclassic evidence of this tradition, discussing not only central features of the Palace Stone, but also additional monuments from Xochicalco and sites in the vicinity, such as the recently discovered Tetlama stela, that belong to the same genre. Thus, we provide a preliminary analysis of the formal features and contents of these fascinating monuments that record an important narrative history and founding myth of Xochicalco and some of its satellite communities. Furthermore, we shall also introduce evidence that suggests that the conventions of this tradition can ultimately be traced back...
I et forsog pa bedre at forsta et begreb og kulturelt faenomen som imperialisme, som for mange ve... more I et forsog pa bedre at forsta et begreb og kulturelt faenomen som imperialisme, som for mange vel primaert forbindes med det romerske imperium, den tidligere britiske kolonimagt eller USA’s enorme politiske og kulturelle indflydelse pa det meste af kloden i dag, er det oplagt at soge bort fra nyere tid, fra den vestlige verden – ja, fra hele den sakaldte ’gamle’ verden. Hvis vi vender os mod de praecolumbianske civilisationer i Mesoamerika og Andesomradet i Sydamerika, finder vi kulturer, der formaede at etablere nogle af de storste imperier i verdenshistorien, fx inkaernes imperium, der rakte fra Ecuador i nord til Chile og Argentina i syd. Netop de praecolumbianske imperier bor interessere os i saerlig grad, eftersom de udvikledes selvstaendigt og uden kontakt til og pavirkning fra den gamle verden. Ingen silkevej spundet af varer og ideer bandt Amerika sammen med Asien og Europa. Med astronomen Anthony Avenis ord: Disse [indianske] kulturer var totalt isolerede fra det vestlige ...
Headdresses, as opulent markers of rank and affiliation, offer a unique opportunity to examine so... more Headdresses, as opulent markers of rank and affiliation, offer a unique opportunity to examine sociopolitical roles and offices at Teotihuacan. In particular, in light of the few surviving glyphic texts from the site, the representations of headdresses, either in isolation, as part ritual investitures, or actively worn by individuals, are in fact one of the few ways to achieve a deeper understanding of the nature, structure, and institutional aspects of social stations and in the ancient metropolis. In this paper, we will first discuss the elemental properties of headdresses in Teotihuacan iconography as well as the rites of accession upon which these symbolic markers were acquired. Thereafter, we suggest that several kinds of headdresses are also associated with specific named houses at Teotihuacan, which indicate their close affiliation with certain powerful institutions. Finally, we focus on some of the specific types of headdresses, and especially those qualified by the so-calle...
The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influenc... more The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influence, and intricately decorated polychrome murals. The latter are the focus of the present study, in particular the unique landscape scene from Murals 2 and 3 from Portico 1 of the North Patio of the Atetelco residential compound that depicts a row of toponymic hill signs. The three hills have identical qualifying elements embedded, identified as combinations of an owl and a spearthrower. The murals thus make a repeated reference to a place named “Spearthrower Owl Hill.” The dating of the murals to the Early Xolalpan phase (ca. A.D. 350–450) makes them contemporary with the so-called Teotihuacan entrada into the Maya lowland sites such as Tikal, where hieroglyphic texts make mention of a Teotihuacan-affiliated individual known as “Spearthrower Owl.” From these findings—and based on Mesoamerican naming practices—we go on to suggest that the Atetelco toponym and the historical individual shar...
The cultural tradition of stuccoed and polychromatic murals in central Mexico dates back to Early... more The cultural tradition of stuccoed and polychromatic murals in central Mexico dates back to Early Classic Teotihuacan and continued into the subsequent Epiclassic period, with the stunning murals from Cacaxtla as the most famous and well-studied example. In this paper, we present three examples of stuccoed and richly painted benches or thrones from the mayor Epiclassic site of Xochicalco in the Mexican state of Morelos. A careful iconographic and epigraphic analysis of the imagery, as well as the associated hieroglyphic signs from one of the benches, leads us to suggest that these benches played a pivotal role in displaying the religious, mythological, and historical underpinnings of hierarchical power at Xochicalco. Based on comparisons with benches and seats from Classic Maya culture and, in particular, the contemporaneous Terminal Classic city of Chichen Itza, which was deeply involved in interregional relations with central Mexico, we also suggest that the Xochicalco benches may...
Mythic narratives occupy a privileged position in human cultures, and relate not only the creatio... more Mythic narratives occupy a privileged position in human cultures, and relate not only the creation of the world, plants, animals and people, but also the origin of social values, rituals and institutions. The pre-eminence given to myths and their explanatory value, means that these narratives are much more than the recollection of fantastic events in the deep past. The study of myths have relied on a wide range of approaches, variously stipulating that these are the product of the social unconscious, the fabricated fantasies of the rulers to bolster their claims to power, or the indistinct recollections of actual events in the distant past — beyond the reaches of orally-transmitted extra-social memory. Here we present a particular mythic motif, involving the defeat of a giant celestial bird, with solar attributes, at the hands of a culture hero or heroic twins. While we will focus on this motif and its distribution across Mesoamerican cultures, it bears remarking that similar motifs...
P å en af vaeggene i det midterste af de tre udstillingsrum, der i dag rummer Nationalmuseets uds... more P å en af vaeggene i det midterste af de tre udstillingsrum, der i dag rummer Nationalmuseets udstilling af indianske genstande, haenger, hvad der ved første øjekast blot ligner et gammelt slidt kort (Ill.1). Det er tydeligvis blevet foldet ud og sammen et utal af gange. En raekke farvelagte figurer dominerer midten af kortet, og hvad der ligner små, saere tegninger pryder kanterne. Et par kirke-lignende bygninger springer desuden i øjnene. Et lille skilt oplyser: "Billedhåndskrift. Mexico 1500-1600. I Mexico anvendte saerligt uddannede embedsmaend både billedskrift og billeder til at skildre landets historie og geografi. Kortet her viser det såkaldte Blomsterbjerg, som det dog ikke har vaeret muligt at placere geografisk. Kirkerne og bogstaverne vidner om, at kortet er blevet til efter spaniernes ankomst." Vi ved, at det gamle dokument kom til Danmark i 1869, men i protokollen på Etnografisk Samling står blot: "En Tegning under Benaevnelse: Image de l'Antiquité du Mexique, modtaget fra Herr Schleiden ved Generalkonsul Bockelmann, Hamburg," og derudover er det uvist praecist, hvordan dokumentet fandt vej fra Xochitepec, en mixtekisk by i det sydlige Oaxaca i Mexico, til Danmark. 1 Men at der på Nationalmuseet befinder sig et eksempel 7 Bernardino de Sahagún: Florentine Codex: General History of the Things of New Spain.
The Myths of the Popol Vuh in Cosmology, Art, and Ritual (edited by H. Moyes, A. Christenson y F. Sachse), pp. 295-314. University Press of Colorado, Louisville. , 2021
Latin American Antiquity, Vol. 19 (4): 459-474, 2008
The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influenc... more The important Classic period site of Teotihuacan is renowned for its great size, ancient influence, and intricately decorated polychrome murals. The latter are the focus of the present study, in particular the unique landscape scene from Murals 2 and 3 from Portico 1 of the North Patio of the Atetelco residential compound that depicts a row of toponymic hill signs. The three hills have identical qualifying elements embedded, identified as combinations of an owl and a spearthrower. The murals thus make a repeated reference to a place named “Spearthrower Owl Hill.” The dating of the murals to the Early Xolalpan phase (ca. A.D. 350–450) makes them contemporary with the so-called Teotihuacan entrada into the Maya lowland sites such as Tikal, where hieroglyphic texts make mention of a Teotihuacan-affiliated individual known as “Spearthrower Owl.” From these findings—and based on Mesoamerican naming practices—we go on to suggest that the Atetelco toponym and the historical individual share the name of a common forebear, possibly that of a previously unidentified Teotihuacan martial patron deity. As such, the Early Classic Teotihuacan “Spearthrower Owl” deity has much in common with the legendary Huitzilopochtli of the Late Postclassic Mexica. Our reexamination of the murals from Atetelco shows the enormous potential that further studies in Teotihuacan writing and iconography still have for our understanding of the history and religion of this major Mesoamerican site.
In the present essay, we explore the importance of pyrolatry in the archaeological record, as wel... more In the present essay, we explore the importance of pyrolatry in the archaeological record, as well as in the iconography and epigraphic corpus of Early Classic Teotihuacan (ca. AD 1–650). We will focus on the role of fire in rituals related to transition and transformation, review the evidence of New Fire rituals that appear to have been centered on the Pyramid of the Sun, and discuss the role of fire as a transformative agent in funer-ary rituals at Teotihuacan. This discussion builds on Karl Taube's seminal work on the iconography of elaborate, theater-style incense burners as well as on the religious and metaphorical significance of butterflies as these pertain to a cult of elite warriors (Taube 2000). We wish to emphasize the conceptual overlap between the cremation of the bundled years that have expired and human mortuary bundles. This may add to our understanding of years and time intervals as personified entities, which could be born, named, and enthroned and would eventually die and undergo the same con-flagratory transformation as prominent human beings. In addition, we offer a reexamination of the Late Postclassic Aztec perception of Teotihuacan as the place where the sun was created by fire rituals and immolation, and we suggest that the above-mentioned aspects may indeed be traced all the way back to Teotihuacan.
Su obra y su legado fueron muy importantes y llegaron a convertirse en parte de la cultura de los... more Su obra y su legado fueron muy importantes y llegaron a convertirse en parte de la cultura de los habitantes del pueblo purépecha porque Fray Jacobo desarrolló su labor en diversos lugares como Tzintzuntzan, Tarecuato, Zacapu, Peribán y un largo etcétera, encauzando su labor misionera con una visión de libertad y de reconocimiento a los derechos de los habitantes de los pueblos originarios muy avanzada para la época, ya que promovió más que cualquier otro evangelizador el derecho a que los pobladores indígenas recibieran los sacramentos de la nueva fe sin restricciones, incluyendo no sólo el bautismo, la comunión y el matrimonio, sino algo tan revolucionario como el derecho a ser ordenados sacerdotes, lo cual le generó problemas con miembros de su propia orden y del clero secular.
Fernández Ayala, Christophe Helmke y a las instituciones que amablemente nos han permitido reprod... more Fernández Ayala, Christophe Helmke y a las instituciones que amablemente nos han permitido reproducir parte de su acervo como el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia y el Museo Regional Michoacano "Nicolás León" y a su director,
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