[Aztlan] Maya Standard Unit of Measure

[Jenn Newman]

Hi all

In the 2008 Spring issue of Ancient Mesoamerica  (Canons of Maya Painting: a spatial analysis of Classic Period
Polychromes) I discuss the use of ratios used by Maya scribes in text and image on the polychrome vessels. 



Abstract: This paper presents an
analysis of the size and spatial organization of text segments and
anthropomorphic figures on Classic Maya polychrome vases.  Based on a sample of 110 vases that contain
both texts and images and are complete enough to measure the relevant
variables, it demonstrates that a single set of canons for the sizes and
placements of text segments and images, separately and with respect to one
another, characterizes vessels throughout the polychrome-producing area.  Both texts and images exhibit a three-level
hierarchy of sizes, with standardized ratios of the primary to secondary and of
the secondary to tertiary levels. Concurrently, significance is added to these
sizes through vertical and horizontal arrangement on the vessel surface. This analysis
statistically confirms what visual analysis has broadly speculated about in
terms of proportion, scale and similarities between styles. Data is also
provided which illuminates issues in method and meaning of scene layout and
representation of active and inactive figure illustration. 


I am inclined to believe that something readily available, like the human hand, was used for measurement purposes on the polychromes. The consistency in depictions is fascinating!!

Cheers 
Jenn Newman



> From: ocelotonatiuh at msn.com
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 22:12:50 +0000
> Subject: [Aztlan] Maya Standard Unit of Measure
> 
> 
> In a National Geographic video about Maya architecture, one of the archeologist mentioned the hypothesis that the Maya designed and measured their structures based on geometric proportions found in nature. They did not use a standard unit of measurement per say, but by using ropes cut or marked so that their structures had the same geometric proportions that can be found in something as small as a flower, or even the human body, or possibly even the distances between heavenly bodies as viewed from earth, they measured out distance accordingly. This made sense to me because the cultures of Mesoamerica were always trying to emulate creation or the environment in which they lived.
> _______________________________________________
> Aztlan mailing list
> http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan
> Click here to post a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Click to view Calendar of Events http://research.famsi.org/events/events.php
> 
> 

_________________________________________________________________
Get more out of the Web. Learn 10 hidden secrets of Windows Live.
http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008