Rescuing victims from a flood - a lost frieze from Tikal. Note volcano erupting.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tikal frieze - Flood victims
Rescuing victims from a flood - a lost frieze from Tikal. Note volcano erupting.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Mayan Royal Double-Headed Serpent Bar
Note the double-headed serpent bar in the headdress.
Ruler holding a double-headed serpent bar - compare to the double-headed makara bar on the throne of the Buddha.
Mayan double-headed serpent bar with profiles of dieties emerging from each mouth. The serpent`s body represents the ecliptic, the heads are sunset and sunrise with the dieties as the setting and rising sun emerging. The 2 "X"s are the equinoxes.Drawing by Linda Schele.
Frederick Catherwood 1844 Stela D, Copan. Ruler holding a double-headed serpent bar.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Buddha with Makaras
Southeast Asia - Buddha with makaras.
Note double-headed serpent bar (makaras) behind the Buddha on his throne. Compare to the Mayan royal double-headed serpent bar.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Makaras
Aztec double-headed serpent in turquoise mosaic. The Mesoamerican artists obtained their turquoise from the Arizona - New Mexico area.
Makara Thorana and Buddha Statues
"Makaras (on each side of the Buddha statues) are amazing creatures: they have eyes of a monkey, trunk of an elephant, tail of a peacock, limbs of a lion, jaws of a crocodile, body of a fish and ears of a hog."
Mayan figurines with Makaras
Mayan throne with double-headed serpent painted with the famous Maya blue pigment.
Stylized Mayan figurine with makara crocodile-elephants behind his torso. Note hooked nose of makaras.
Mayan priest with makara crocodiles behind his torso.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Ajanta Caves - India
Ajanta caves - India, note the double-headed "makara" caiman behind the throne of Buddha at his shoulders. (Click on image to enlarge).
Mayan Double-Headed Serpent Bar
Copan, Honduras - ruler holding a ceremonial double-headed serpent bar.
Maya King and the Double-Headed Serpent Bar of Authority
"The double-headed Serpent Bar is the iconographic equivalent of the arc of the ecliptic. Most any Maya king featured on carved stone stela will be shown wearing a double-headed serpent pendant or holding up a double-headed serpent bar. Here we see an image of Stela D from the Maya site of Copán, depicting ruler Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil (18 Rabbit). The king is shown wearing an elaborate headdress and holding a double-headed serpent bar that represents his divine connection to the sun. The serpents’ heads represent the arc of the ecliptic. The pathway involves the sun and its movement from sunrise to sunset, descending into the underworld each night and emerging from the underworld each morning."
The double-headed serpent bar can also symbolize the cycle of the eclipses of the sun and moon when they are swallowed up by the serpent and then reappear.
Compare the double-headed serpent bar to the Buddhist throne below. There is often a double-headed caiman bar behing the seat of the Buddha.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
El Mirador
Yaxha pyramid at El Mirador.
Mural of the world`s largest pyramid at El Mirador.
La Danta pyramid at El Mirador, note the size of the figure standing on the top.
Mayan creation myth mural at El Mirador. This stucco bas-relief mural depicts the hero twins from the Popul-Vuh. It was discovered within a pyramid that had been built over the original structure.
The largest pyramid in the world at El Mirador.