[Aztlan] Ancient Kawil Tezkatlipoka leftfoot

[John E. Staller]

The reason that I brought up this example is because I had hoped that  
some of the listeros may have observed what appears in this case to  
be an example of a bilateral symmetry that contrasts a binary duality  
that has reference to structure (male) on the one hand, and fluidity  
(female) on the other. In my first example, the metaphorical  
reference to Tezcatlipoca's power over the calendar and essential  
connections to war and sacrifice appear to be emphasized symbolically  
by the left side, his missing left foot, and his consumption of a  
left hand, while in the panel of his temptation and missing foot due  
to the earth monster (female/fluidity) it appears that the emphasis  
is made by a missing right foot.
The reason I brought this up is in part because the binary duality  
contrasting structure and fluidity with regard to sidedness is  
especially apparent in Inca culture, and clearly brought out by  
Pachacuti Yamqui's diagram of Inca cosmology. This diagram can be  
seen in it's original and translated form in Constance Classen's 1992  
book Inca Cosmology and the Human Body University of Utah Press.
In this case, the halves of his diagram show structure the male  
principle, represented in this case by the sun, summer, rainbows,  
lightning, morning star, and the eyes of all things, are on the left  
half, and while the female principle, represented in this case by the  
moon, clouds, winter, spring, evening star, cats, mother sea, and  
world tree, are on the right side. Both sides are mediated by the  
symbols of culture, in this case a male (left side) and a female  
(right side).
Moreover, it has been widely documented in the Spanish chronicles  
that the hand one uses to toast another person has clear and  
unambiguous reference to status and hierarchy. This was brought out  
by Titu Cusi Yupanqui's recollection of his uncle's Atahualpa's  
initial encounter with Hernando Pizarro and the other Spanish  
Conquistadores. Thus, sidedness, at least with reference to the human  
body, to what is represented and observed by the viewer. should also  
have symbolic and metaphorical significance in Mesoamerican culture.  
Something to think about.

Perhaps the images cited by this listero below should bring such  
patterns to the surface. I can not speculate how sidedness might have  
reference to representation in glyphs, but perhaps some experts out  
there might be able to enlighten us.

Begin forwarded message:
> From: "John E. Staller" <jstaller at earthlink.net>
> Date: May 2, 2009 7:25:34 PM CDT
> To: Justin Kerr <mayavase at verizon.net>
> Cc: Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Subject: Re: [Aztlan] Left hand (and foot)
>
> A page in the Codex Fejervary-Mayer shows Tezcatlipoca and his
> essential connections to war and sacrifice. He is surrounded by
> dates, a metaphor for his perceived power over the 13 periods of the
> Aztec calendar. The missing foot is clearly his left. He is consuming
> an Aztec delicacy, the hand of a sacrificed victim, which in this
> case is also the left hand. However, in another image in the same
> codex, a panel in which he is tempted by the earth monster, the
> missing foot appears to be his right.

On May 4, 2009, at 10:15 PM, Pedro de Eguiluz wrote:

> Here we find the oldest Tezkatlipoka / Kawil from Baja California  
> 7000 - 9000bc
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/Juxtlahuaca_clip_image021.jpg
>
> Here we see it in a pretoglyph of Acapulco, Guerrero, this one also  
> has a Tonalli and a long count date.
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/Nueva%20carpeta/acapulco3.gif
>
> Here we find a more complex one in Juxtlawaka, Guerrero 1500bc
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/juxtla.jpg
>
> In the three images the left foot transforms.
>
> more recent images:
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/Juxtlahuaca_clip_image006.jpg
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/VasoMaya3.jpg
>
> the 5 Tezkatlipokas
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/imagenes/Tonaleque.gif
>
>
> An some articles I wrote related to Tezkaltipoka / Kawil in Spanish  
> and one about 1200bc.
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/Tezcatlipoca.html
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/Continuidadcultural.html
>
> http://mexicoantiguo.org/olmecas.html
>
>
> Greettings
>
> Pedro
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