[Aztlan] quatrefoils

[Lynda Manning-Schwartz]

The quatrefoils are the zero marks. They are portals to the supernatural
world. The "ropes" inside are actually woven pieces suspended blocking
(protecting?) the portal "hole" and seem to be associated with the Maya
month Pohp (mat or royal seating/marriage). Pohp is the "zeroth" month,
which is the first month after the five days at the haab (vague year)
end in the Maya (Tikal) calendar. It is the date of the Tikal Yearbearer
(6 Wind 0 Pohp) for the Julian year 1549-1550.

I haven't proved it yet, but I surmised a while ago that the quatrefoil
with woven ropes inside like the symbols on some female clothing is a
symbol of the 0 Pohp old year ending/new year beginning. Note that the
actual date of the current event doesn't have to be 0 Pohp; it probably
marks the astronomical anniversary of a 0 Pohp date/year that
represented a significant event in the past.

For more information, see

Coe, Michael D., and Mark Van Stone. 2005. Reading the Maya glyphs, 2nd
Ed. London: Thames & Hudson.

Edmonson, Munro S. 1992. Chapter 10 in Handbook of Middle American
Indians, Supplement 5, Epigraphy. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.

Fields, Virginia M., and Dorie Reents-Budet. 2006. Lords of Creation:
The origin of sacred Maya kingship. Los Angeles, CA: Los Angeles County
Museum of Art.

Reilly III, F. Kent. 1995. Art, ritual, and rulership in the Olmec
world. In The Olmec world: Ritual and rulership. Princeton, NJ: The Art
Museum.

Lynda

-----Original Message-----
From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org
[mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org] On Behalf Of Melissa Amaral
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 1:14 PM
To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
Subject: [Aztlan] quatrefoils

I am fascinated by quatrefoils in Mesoamerican iconography. Does anyone
know
of any sources I should seek out to learn more about them? Any books,
articles, images, etc would be greatly appreciated. I am primarily
interested in their role as portals, but I would also like to know why
the
image of the quatrefoil with what seems to be ropes knotted in it also
shows
up on clothing.

Thanks,

Melissa
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