[Aztlan] Turtle and tortoises

[Michael Carrasco]

Dear All,

A number of years ago Kerry Hull and I wrote two papers that addressed certain aspects of turtle iconography within the larger context of cosmological and architectural symbolism. We would certainly welcome any comments people might have, particularly since we have toyed with the idea of going back into them to write a longer more detailed study. If you do not have access to them please let Kerry or I know and I am sure we can get you a copy. 
Mak-”Portal” Rituals Uncovered: An Approach to Interpreting Symbolic Architecture and the Creation of Sacred Space Among the Maya. In, Continuity and Change: Maya Religious Practices in Temporal Perspective. 5th European Maya Conference, University of Bonn, Germany Dec. 2000. Acta Mesoamericana, Vol. 14, pp.131-142. 2004
 The Cosmogonic Symbolism of the Corbeled Vault in Maya Architecture.  Mexicon Volume XXIV, No. 2, April, pp. 26-32. 2002
Best,
Michael

Michael J. Fitzpatrick wrote:
> At Uxmal there is a building with external turtle sculpture decor known
> as,
> of all things, the House of the Turtles.
> http://mayaruins.com/uxmal/j1_1708.html
> 
> http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xOTkGxeUaVQJ:www.buriedmirror.com/latest
> /2007/05/14/maya-symbology-turtle/+uxmal+turtle&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us
> 
> Taube suggests that the turtle symbolism is associated with katun ending
> periods.
> http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0091-7710(198822)44%3A2%3C183%3AAPMKW%3E2.0
> .CO%3B2-7
> 
> There are also several tortoise altars at Copan in Honduras.
> 
> 
> Michael J. Fitzpatrick
> 152 North Third St., #800
> San Jose, CA 95112
> (408) 288-8013
> Fax (408) 995-0531
> Fitzesq at earthlink.net
> 
> "There is nothing so powerful as truth, and often nothing so strange."
> Daniel Webster
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:19:42 -0700
> From: "Ted Presler" <presrub at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Aztlan] Zoomorphic Illustrations-Tortoise
> To: <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
> Message-ID: <BAY105-DAV19DCD322A4619620FD118BBE090 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> At Quirigua, there is a carved stone showing a tortoise. Is the tortoise
> or
> turtle commonly used in Mesoamerican cultures like the Maya and if so what
> is it significance?
> Do we see its use on ceramics as well as carvings?
> Any thoughts on the above would be appreciated.
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> 
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Michael D. Carrasco

Assistant Professor, Art History
Florida State University 
Dept of Art History
Fine Arts Building 220D
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1151
mobile: 512.762.2984
Unaahil B'aak: The Temples of Palenque