Mesoamerican Art History Terms

terms to memorize (purple in ppts)

The Olmec Heartlands

The area with the largest concentration of Olmec civilizations. On the Gulf coast. Includes Tres Zapotes, La Venta, San Lorenzo

The Olmec Horizon

The area of Mexico with a lower concentration of Olmec civilizations. Inland and Pacific coast. Includes Tlatilco, Chalcatzingo

votive axe

a small sculptural object, shaped like an axe head

nahuall/nagual

a human being who has the power to magically turn themself into an animal form

sculpture in the round

a sculptural object that may be viewed from all sides, a fully sculpted free-standing object

quincunx

the five-point directional system in Mesoamerica

axis-mundi

a fifth vertical direction that traverses the realms of existence

regal-ritual cities

urban centers that have highly developed ritual functions

portrait

a visual representation of a unique/specific individual

in situ

in original location

San Lorenzo

an Olmec city/archeological dig site in the Olmec Heartland

relief

an image carved into/from a surface

bas-relief

low relief

stela

a carved or inscribed stone slab pillar used for commemorative purposes

isometric perspective

background figures are placed above rather than behind

anthropomorphic figure

a figure with human characteristics

quatrefoil

a four-lobed shape

Pacific Piedmont

the broad, sloping Pacific Coast plain of Guatemala and southern Mexico

The Principal Bird Deity (PBD)

a bird deity that appears in art, subject of bird dances

the Popol Vuh

the (K’iche’) Maya narrative of creation

Hero Twins

the twin protagonists of the Popl Vuh

mural

a painting executed directly on a wall

fresco

a painting executed directly on wet plaster on a wall or celling

vision serpents

logosyllabic

a writing system that used both logographs and a syllabary

The Calendar Round

Long Count

begins August 13, 3114 BCE

4 Ahaw 8 Kumk’u

the Calendar Round Date that corresponds to the date of creation (of our current cosmological era)