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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)
Note 
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