Page 558 - Art In The Age Of Exploration (Great Section on Chinese Art Ming Dynasty)

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HUEHUETL
Aztec
wood
5
2
84 X 50 X 50 (33 Vs X 19 /2 X 19 /8J
CNCA—INAH—MEX, Museo National de
Antropologia, Mexico City

The name of this type of vertical drum in the
Nahuatl language is huehuetl or tlapanhuehuetl.
Two surviving huehuetls in particular are notable
for the fine workmanship of their decoration. One
of them comes from Malinalco (Nicholson 1983,
144-147), and the other from the village of
Tenango (Castaneda and Mendoza 1933), both
located in the State of Mexico. The drum shown
here is the one from Tenango.
This drum was worked from a section of a tree
trunk that was hollowed out and shaped like a
cylinder; the upper part was covered with a skin
to be struck with hands or hammers. The Tenango
drum's three supports resemble the battlements
of pre-Hispanic buildings turned upside-down.

duce a harmonious sound. This type of drum was
the usual accompaniment for poetry recitals.
Of the many teponaztlis in the Museo
National's collection, this one, from Tlaxcallan,
is certainly the most important. It represents a
Tlaxcalteca warrior who, following the shape of
the instrument, reclines on one side, while his
head and arms are directed toward the front. He
displays the headdress insignia of the great war-
riors and carries a flower in one hand. His skill
in warfare is demonstrated by his handling of
different arms.
There had long been antagonism between the
Tlaxcaltecas and the Aztecs, and this became
intensified from the time of Motecuhzoma Ilhui-
camina's government (1440-1469), during which
time both peoples agreed to the establishment of
the xochitlyaoyotl (flowery war); this was a kind
of military tournament, where the bravest war-
riors of the nations faced each other. Their pur-
pose was neither territorial dominion nor plunder,
but rather to capture the enemy alive, tie his feet
and hands, and carry him to the victor's camp.
Later the captives would be taken to Tlaxcallan,
where they would be exhibited as war trophies.
Eventually the prisoners would be sacrificed in
honor of the gods. F. s.

THE AMERICAS 557