File:Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America (1917) (17574718043).jpg

English: Fig. 70. Hieroglyphs of Precious Materials: left to right, gold; turquoise; mosaic of precious stones; chalchihuitl, or jade; mirror of obsidian.

Title: Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America
Identifier: ancientcivilizat03spin (find matches)
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Spinden, Herbert Joseph, 1879-1967
Subjects: Indians of Mexico; Indians of Central America
Publisher: New York
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: IMLS / LSTA / METRO

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Text Appearing Before Image:
THE A/TECS 107 of braided rattlesnakes. The arms arc doubled up and the hands arc snake heads on a level with (lie shoulders. Around the neck and hanging down over the breasl is a necklace of alternating hands and hearts with a death's head pendant. The head of this monstrous woman is the same on front and back and is formed of two serpent heads that meet face to face. The forked tongue and the four downward pointing fangs belong half and half to each of the two profile faces. Mexican Writing. The means of record employed in Mexican codices are in part pictographic and in part hieroglyphic. The sequence of the historical
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 70. Hieroglyphs of Precious Materials: left to right, gold; turquoise; mosaic of precious stones; chalchihuitl, or jade; mirror of obsidian. events in these native manuscripts is often indicated by a line of footprints leading from one place or scene of action to another. Historical records of this type resemble old-fashioned maps and some are in fact known by this name. The places of towns in these documents are represented by true hieroglyphs and often the character of the country is indicated by pic- tures of typical vegetation, such as maguey plants for the highlands and palms for the lowlands. The day or the year in which took place the foundation of the town or whatever event is intended to be recorded is usually placed in conjunction with the hieroglyph or picture. Conquest is often indicated by a place name hieroglyph with a spear thrust into it.

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