ap art history: indigenous americas, africa, pacific islands

Chavín de Huántar

The Chavin (Northern Highlands, Peru)

900-200 BCE

Stone and granite

• ~10,000 feet above sea level

• Flanks a river, with sides of building aligning with the four cardinal directions

• Religious capital of Chavin people, visited often by pilgrims

• Has two parts: old temple and new temple. New temple has an added sunken plaza

Chavín de Huántar: The Lanzón (Spear) Stone

The Chavin (Northern Highlands, Peru)

• In old temple, which has hidden entrance and mile-long maze-like tunnels (which may have been used to announce things to the general public for its acoustics)

• ~15 ft high, blade-shaped stone carved in low relief

• Resembles digging stick used in highland agriculture

• Figure pointing (and looking) up and down: connection to heaven and earth

• Groove cut on top of statue leads down to forehead: likely to receive liquid offerings

• Anthropomorphic/zoomorphic imagery

• Likely only accessed by priests

Chavín de Huántar: Relief Sculpture

The Chavin (Northern Highlands, Peru)

• Countour rivalry

• Low relief of jaguar heads and snake motifs

• Found near ruins of stairway

Chavín de Huántar: Nose Ornament

The Chavin (Northern Highlands, Peru)

• Worn by both men and women in ceremonies to indicate a spiritual transformation and/or to indicate wealth/status

• Snake heads on both ends, looking up

Yaxchilán

Maya (Chiapas, Mexico)

725 CE

Limestone

• Royal Mayan city

• On high terrance, near a river (natural protection against enemies)

• Had main plaza surrounded by other important buildings

  • Buildings had roof combs, emphasized verticality

• Stelae incorporated into buildings, oftentimes dated using Mayan calendar

Yaxchilán: Structure 40

Maya (Chiapas, Mexico)

• Commissioned by/dedicated to ruler Bird Jaguar IV

• Contains relief scupltures of Bird Jaguar and family towering over enemies (dynastic lineage with right to conquer)

• Building overlooks main plaza of the south acropolis

• Roof comb nearly completely intact

• Cobbled arch interior

Yaxchilán: Structure 33

Maya (Chiapas, Mexico)

• One of many buildings flanking central acropolis

• Temple somewhat restored

• Roof comb has perforations with sculpted human figure in center

• Decorative lintels depict Bird Jaguar and descendants (in royal dress) defeating enemies in ballgame

• Cobbled arch interior

Yaxchilán: Lintel 25, Structure 23

Maya (Chiapas, Mexico)

• Set above a doorway in a building dedicated to Lady Xoc, Shield Jaguar II’s wife

• Lady Xoc is shown at the lower right with blood offering instruments (spine and bloodletting paper)

  • Rituals meant to feed and please the gods during important events

• Lady Xoc invokes the Vision Serpent upon her husband’s rise to the throne

• Vision Serpent has a human figure emerging from a snake’s mouth

• Inverted hieroglyphic inscription along top border, notes dates of Shield Jaguar’s ascencion to throne

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings

Ancestral Pueblans (Colorado)

450-1300 CE

Sandstone

• ~150 rectangular rooms and ~20 circular rooms, likely housed ~250 people

• Built under cliffside, protected from elements

• Made with wooden beams as well as stone and mud mortar

• Top ledges of pueblos were usually cool and dry, were ideal for storing supplies

• Structures all face a main plaza, has many kivas (circular pits in the ground for gathering/ritual purposes)

Great Serpent Mound

Mississippians (Southern Ohio)

1070 CE

Earthwork

• ~1300 feet long and 1-3 feet tall

• Added to and changed over several mound building campaigns over years

• Unclear purpose (no temples/burials associated with mound)

• Could represent:

  • Snake (symbol of crop fertility) swallowing egg/sun (referencing an eclipse)

  • Halley’s Comet (1066 CE)

  • Calendar, curves representing lunar phases and head as summer solstice sunset