[Aztlan] 4-Petal Flower I.D. in Teotihuacan??

[michael ruggeri]

Kim,

I see the 4 petaled flower as the 4 corners of the universe with the  
world tree in the center symbolism that is so prevalent in all of the  
Americas expressed in slightly different ways in each ancient culture  
in the Americas. If it is true that the Teotihuacanos believed their  
location is where the fifth sun was created and the universe began  
anew there with Teotihuacan serving as a kind of Garden of Eden, using  
the four petaled flower as the symbol of the four corners of the  
universe with the world tree in the center is apt for the Teo  
ideology. The whole city was laid out in the same fashion with a north/ 
south and east/west axis. And remember the tomb underneath the Pyramid  
of the Sun was shaped into a 4 leaf design.

Mike Ruggeri


On Jun 16, 2009, at 3:53 PM, kim Goldsmith wrote:

>
> Hi All!
>
> I have always wondered about the botanical i.d. of the 4-petal  
> flower so widely represented here in Teotihuacan.  I am basicially  
> limited to what I can find on the Net, and I have searched but have  
> not found anything written up on it here.
>
> Even though during my 27 years here at the site I have kept a keen  
> eye out through all seasons for any flower that would fit the bill,  
> I never saw one.  However, the other night at about 3:00 a.m. I was  
> out in our yard (we live in the Director's house on-Site), and  
> noticed a very small bush of flowers in full bloom!!  In the daytime  
> the plant is in plain sight yet barely noticeable, so I kept going  
> outside for a few evenings/nights and confirmed that indeed, that is  
> the only time the flowers open.
>
> I took pictures myself, but there is a good one here (it's the white  
> one):
>
> http://www.uni.edu/~andersow/fourpetals.html
>
> The flower is:
>
> Cutleaf Evening-Primrose
>
> Oenothera coronopifolia
>
> Onagraceae
>
>
> It has only four petals, and is very similar to the ones we see in  
> the art here.  Of course, to be so important iconographically, it  
> would have to have something special about it.  On this site(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera 
> ), among other things, it talks about its medicinal properties as  
> "...considered to be effective in healing asthmatic coughs, gastro- 
> intestinal disorders, whooping cough and as a sedative pain-killer.  
> Poultices containing O. biennis were at one time used to ease  
> bruises and speed wound healing."  It also states that this plant is  
> believed to be a native of Mexico and South America.
>
> Although anything that heals is good, it seems that for as long as  
> man can remember, anything that sedates, relieves pain, or causes a  
> general "feel good" state is even better.  Apparently this  
> particular plant can produce that effect.
>
> Do any of you know of any work out there already done on this  
> topic?  I'm sure there must be SOMETHING, but I certainly don't have  
> access to it here.  And, if it turns out there isn't anything, would  
> anyone be interested in exploring it further with me?  I'm just  
> blown away by the fact that I was too dense in the plant department  
> to know that anything but night-blooming jasmine opened up when the  
> sun went down!
>
> Thanks for indulging me, and please remember that I will be around  
> Teo. during the ICA next month.  My cel no. is 552-717-9845.  Give  
> me a jingle if anyone can make it out for a visit!
>
> Best to all of you,
>
> KIM
>
>
>
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