Page 552 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

is fundamental to an understanding of the Aztecs' lowliest among them, Nanahuatzin, leaped into 368
complex view of the world. the flames to become the sun of the fifth age, 4
The first world age is signified by 4 Ocelotl Ollin, followed by Tecuziztecatl, who rose up as TLALOC VASE
(jaguar) in the upper left corner. In this age Tez- the moon. The midnight setting of this cosmic Aztec
catlipoca ruled the universe but finally was hurled drama may be depicted by the four edges of the earthenware
by Quetzalcoatl into the sea, where he became a monument, which symbolize the night sky: be- 35X32.5 fo /4X12 /4)
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jaguar and proceeded to destroy creation. Quet- neath a band of stars are pendant sacrificial knives CNCA—INAH—MEX, Museo Templo Mayor,
zalcoatl thus ruled the next era, 4 Ehecatl (wind), alternating with symbolic wings of Itzpapalotl Mexico City
the sign of which is in the lower left corner. At ("obsidian butterfly"), a dreaded star goddess who
the end of this sun, Tezcatlipoca, returning as a descends to the earth during solar eclipses. The Aztecs lived within a world of dualities. The
jaguar, threw Quetzalcoatl from his throne; a M.D.C. change from a rainy season, in which the vital
great wind arose and carried away Quetzalcoatl liquid made plants grow and have life, to a dry
and the people, who were turned into monkeys. season, in which everything died, was central to
Tlaloc, the rain god, ruled in the third sun, 4 their culture. The Mesoamerican calendar was
Quiahuitl (rain) seen in the lower right corner. At established in accordance with these cycles, in
the end of this age Xiuhtecuhtli, the old fire god, which the gods of water and fertility prevailed in
descended to the earth and brought about a rain of the first season, and the warrior deities in the
fire, apparently at the command of Quetzalcoatl. second. These deities ruled the daily life of the
In the fourth age, 4 Atl (water), shown in the Aztecs. Tlaloc was the god of water and rain, and
upper right corner, the reigning deity was Chal- he was frequently represented in the form of a
chiuhtlicue ("she of the jade skirt/ the water clay pot that contained water. Many pieces with
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goddess, and Tlaloc's consort). the face of this god were found in the excavations
A great flood destroyed the fourth world and of the Great Temple. As one of the two sanc-
the sky fell on the earth, leaving the world in tuaries of the upper part was dedicated to Tlaloc,
darkness. The gods met at midnight in Teotihua- and the other sanctuary to Huitzilopochtli, god
can, the great city on the northeast side of the of war, the life-death duality was present in the
Valley of Mexico, and built a huge fiery pit. The main Aztec temple. E.M. M.

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