[Aztlan] Man eating jaguars

[David Hixson]

In response to Richard's question about imagery such
as that from Chalcatzingo, I have some speculation,
but it is purely speculation.  I am the LAST person to
suggest using ethnohistoric data from the conquest
period to interpret Formative period imagery, BUT...

If you look at the Aztec myth of the 5 suns, there was
an epoch (4 Jaguar) when the world was first scorched
in flames, then the remaining folks eaten by Jaguars
(please correct me if my recollection is not accurate,
I am in the middle of moving and don't have my source
materials).

I DON'T mean to imply a direct historical connection
between this Aztec myth and the imagery at
Chalcatzingo, but instead offer that perhaps such a
"topsy-turvy" world could be represented at
Chalcatzingo (beast devouring man - instead of the
other way around - a chaotic mythical scene - perhaps
[and I stress "perhaps"] from a previous world epoch).

Even today, in rural Yucatan, the myths of previous
epochs survives (combined with the biblical Noah's
Flood).  Metates are evidence of the dwarves who built
canoes made of stone.  The pyramids are the houses of
giants who likewise built their homes of stone.  Only
"humans" survived the flood, while the giants in their
stone houses and the dwarves with their stone canoes
sunk during the great deluge.

-Dave




       
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