Artistic culture of Mesoamerica

Long before Europeans discovered the American continent on the territory of Central and South America the cultural civilizations of the Olmecs, Aztecs, Mayans and Incas arose, which had an original and original character. It is possible to understand this uniqueness only by taking into account the historical characteristics under which the artistic culture of the so-called pre-Columbian America(before 1492, the time of the discovery of the American continent by Christopher Columbus).

The largest center of artistic culture became Mesoamerica, which included the territory of modern Mexico (except for the desert in the north) and extended south to approximately Nicaragua. This unique civilization, which is the greatest asset of world culture, was an amazing constellation of nations, city-states, ceremonial, political and economic centers known throughout the world today: Tenochtitlan, Teotihucan, Palenque, Chichen Itza.

Structure and meaning artistic language Mesoamerica provides an opportunity to comprehend the ideas and concepts that underlay complex picture a world in which myth and man are inextricably linked. This cultural area has formed a unique architectural style, inextricably linked with other forms of art and reflecting ideas about the structure of the Universe and the movement of stars.

What is characteristic of the art of these peoples? First of all, the affirmation of the omnipotence and greatness of the sacred deity, the cult of ancestors, the glorification of victories over enemies, the exaltation of rulers and the supreme nobility.

Artistic culture of the classical period

The most ancient civilization pre-Columbian America was the Olmec culture, who lived on the Gulf Coast in the 2nd-1st millennia BC. e. Research has shown that the Olmecs had well-planned cultural centers and step pyramids, stone sculpture, objects of decorative and applied art, hieroglyphic writing, ritual calendar. Olmec architecture is poorly preserved, as building material earth and crushed stone were used, covered with a thick layer of plaster.

Olmec sculpture, represented by huge stone heads up to 3 m high and weighing up to 40 tons, became world famous. Their purpose is still unknown, but most likely they were of a cult nature. These giant heads, discovered during excavations, still amaze today with their monumentality, mastery of execution, and realistic reproduction of the individual traits of personalities known at that time.

In one of famous sculptures captured young man with a wide and flat nose, as if flattened in the middle, thick lips and almond-shaped eyes, slightly covered with heavy eyelids. The height of the sculpture is 2.41 m, weight 25 tons. On the young man’s head is a tight-fitting helmet with headphones decorated with a relief pattern.

By the beginning of the new era, the Olmec culture had disappeared. What caused its decline is unknown, but it was replaced by new civilizations, and above all Teotihuacan city in Central America (2nd century BC - 7th century AD). In this city, located near modern Mexico City, two main temples dedicated to the Sun and Moon have been preserved from its heyday. They are located at the top of a huge step pyramid. The temples were decorated with colorful paintings and brightly painted statues of gods. The eyes of the sculptures are inlaid with precious stones and mother-of-pearl.

The most grandiose architectural structure - pyramid of the sun(Mexico), currently 64.6 m high (in all likelihood, it was even higher in ancient times). Unlike other pyramidal structures that had a stepped shape, the Pyramid of the Sun consists of four large, decreasing truncated pyramids, placed one on top of the other. On one side of the pyramid there is a system of gradually narrowing ramps that led to the sanctuary in the temple. The planes between the terraces of the building were constructed in such a way that spectators located at the foot of the large staircase could not see what was happening at its top. The pyramid was built from a huge number of mud bricks and faced with plastered stone slabs.

In the middle of the 9th century. the city was abandoned by its inhabitants and turned into a heap of ruins. The civilizations of the classical period were destroyed by the invasion of peoples from the north, first the Toltecs, and in the 11th century. new conquerors - Aztecs who created their own civilization.

Aztec artistic culture

The main feature of the art of the Aztec hunting tribes was the worship of the gods. Surviving legends and tales tell of numerous campaigns and bloody battles of this warlike people, before he created a powerful empire with a highly developed culture. The main place of worship of the gods were temples, which by the beginning of the conquest by the Spaniards in the 16th century. there were more than 40 thousand.

The capital of the Aztecs was especially striking in its splendor Tenochtitlan(“a fruit tree growing from a stone”), or Mexico City - now the capital of Mexico (named after the main god of war - Mehitli). The city center was located on an island in the middle of a picturesque lake, surrounded by buildings on stilts and dams, cut by canals. In case of danger, bridges spanning the canals were raised, and the city turned into an impregnable fortress. Alas, Tenochtitlan did not escape a sad fate: at the beginning of the 16th century. the city was conquered and destroyed by the Spanish conquerors - the conquistadors.

We know very little about Aztec architecture, since many structures were destroyed or completely rebuilt. Information about them is preserved only in the descriptions of Spanish eyewitnesses. It is known that in the center of Tenochtitlan there were three palaces of the Aztec rulers and the main temple of the supreme god of war. Two small wooden temples were built on top of the step pyramid.

The Aztec culture reached a special peak. sculpture. Monumental statues of deities are abstract and conventional in nature. As an example, we can cite the huge statue of Coatlicue- goddess of the earth and spring fertility - mother of the supreme deity of war. This statue only vaguely resembles a human figure: it has no face, no head, no arms, no legs. It is made from various materials: corn cobs, claws and fangs of jaguars, human skulls and palms, feathers, wriggling snakes, eagle paws, etc. All this heap various items strictly symmetrical and balanced.

Have a different character funeral masks Aztecs, reflecting the facial features of the buried person. Notable in this regard is the basalt head of the “eagle warrior”, in which the strong-willed face of the young warrior is masterfully conveyed. The works also attract attention small plastic surgery : graceful figurines of a man crouching on hind legs a frightened rabbit, a curled up snake, a grasshopper preparing to jump, smoking pipes decorated with a seated figure of the god of fire.

Few surviving works jewelry art amaze with their skill. Necklaces, pendants, earrings, and breast plates are distinguished by their elegance and fine design.

Mayan artistic culture

The Mayan civilization achieved particular success. Long before the conquest by the Spanish conquerors in the 9th-10th centuries. The Mayans invented an accurate solar calendar, determined the length of the year, used the concept of zero in mathematics a thousand years earlier than European civilization, and accurately predicted solar and lunar eclipses, invented a developed hieroglyphic writing. The Mayan art was distinguished by sophistication and perfection.

One of the most eloquent evidence of this culture is architecture: majestic pyramids, magnificent palaces and white-stone cities, lost in the impenetrable jungle of Central America. To the achievements of architecture should be added beautiful monuments of sculpture, unique multi-color frescoes, paintings on vessels, graceful figurines, jewelry, wonderful works made using the technique of carving wood, bone and mother-of-pearl.

The origin of the Mayan civilization is shrouded in mystery. Its appearance dates back to the turn of our era, when Caesar’s legions subjugated more and more lands to the rule of Rome; its rapid flowering occurred in the 7th-8th centuries. n. e. Only towards the end of the 9th century. The majestic cities froze, the palaces were empty, and the echo of human voices fell silent in the wide squares of the Mayan cities.

What caused the death of the once prosperous civilization is still unknown. There are several versions on this score: an earthquake, sudden climate change, depletion of previously fertile lands, epidemics of terrible diseases, foreign invasion, endless wars...

Of the monuments of Mayan artistic culture, the best preserved to this day are works of architecture. They are striking in their amazing sense of proportions, majestic monumentality, diversity architectural forms. These are not only pyramids and palaces, but also astronomical observatories, ball courts, colonnades, staircases, triumphal arches and steles.

Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, tetrahedral step pyramids were built here, on the truncated top of which a temple with two or three rooms was built. A long, wide staircase led from the base of the pyramid to the door of the sanctuary; sometimes such staircases were located on all four sides of the pyramid.

One of the peaks of Mayan architecture is Palace complex in the city of Palenque on the Yucatan Peninsula. Twenty-five buildings, scattered across a rolling plain covered with dense tropical forest, are grouped around four courtyards and connected by narrow corridors and staircases. The main decorations of the complex are the palace and the step pyramid of the Inscriptions (692). To the southeast there are three more temples - the Sun, the Cross (642) and the Foliated Cross (692). This is how the French traveler M. Pessel described his first meeting with the city: “The ruins of Palenque, appearing so unexpectedly among the endless forest ocean, were simply stunning. Here the riddle of centuries appeared before me, the riddle of a civilization that had died and disappeared, but still amazingly continuing to live in these grandiose buildings - witnesses of former power and glory.”

The palace at Palenque (now much destroyed) stands on a natural plateau, rising almost 70 m above the plain. Inside the palace there are courtyards surrounded by galleries. Richly decorated with carved and sculptural images and inscriptions, the palace has a four-story square turret, which probably served as astronomical observatory Mayan priests.

The Temple of the Inscriptions is a 9-step pyramid rising above the ground to a height of about 24 m. On its upper platform there is a rectangular temple, to which a staircase of 69 steps leads. The walls of the temple are decorated with panels, richly decorated bas-reliefs and relief hieroglyphic inscriptions, thanks to which the temple got its name.

As you know, step pyramids with a flat top often served as tombs of revered people. That is why kings and priests performed rituals here in order to establish a magical connection with the spirits of their ancestors. Inside the pyramid, at a depth of 25 m, in 1952, a magnificent tomb of one of the Mayan rulers was discovered. The relief on the lid of the sarcophagus of this ruler was able to tell scientists a lot. Ancient craftsmen reproduced in stone the Seven Caves - the ancestral home of many Mexican tribes and the world tree connecting the underground and upper worlds. Many symbols associated with Mayan beliefs were woven into the image of the tree (for example, large bird quetzal with a wide open beak, symbolizing the connection between worlds, reviving the souls of the dead).

No less peculiar are the so-called stadiums- structures with courts for the iconic ball game. They represent two inclined massive walls running parallel to each other. Between them there was a court for playing ball. Participants were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet. You could only play with your elbows, shoulders and sides. The winner was the team that was the first to throw the ball into the round hole made in stone wall.

Fans were located on the tops of two walls, which they climbed using stairs located on the outside.

fine arts Maya also had its own characteristic features. There was a canon in it, which was determined by the cult of the deified ruler and his ancestors. He achieved particular perfection in works of sculpture. The Mayan ruler was most often depicted in war scenes or seated on a throne. The main attention of the sculptors was not attracted by the individual features of his appearance or his inner soul.

quality, but an accurate and careful reproduction of a magnificent costume, headdress and other attributes of power. A certain idealized person appeared before the viewer, frozen in a motionless pose, devoid of feelings and character traits. His face conveyed indifference and calm majesty. It inspired fear in the conquered captives. They, unlike the ruler, were aware of human feelings: grief, pain from wounds, silent obedience... The image of the ruler was accompanied by a short hieroglyphic text containing information about his birth, reign, military victories and other successes.

The artistic culture of the Mayan peoples had a huge influence on the American culture of subsequent eras.

Inca artistic culture

One of the most famous South American civilizations was the Inca Empire, an Indian people who lived from the 11th century. in the territory of modern Peru. This empire included the lands of modern Bolivia, the southern part of Ecuador, northern Chile and Argentina. Inca legends have been preserved, telling about the emergence of the world, the first deities and people. At the head of the Inca empire was the Supreme Inca - the Son of the Sun, and the Incas themselves considered themselves “sons of the Sun”. Image of the luminary in the form of a golden disk with human face was an object of official worship.

One of the oldest legends tells that when a couple emerged from Lake Titicaca, having received a magical golden rod from their father the Sun, they were predicted to found a city and a country in a certain place. They searched for this place for a long time, and then one day, after a long search, the rod suddenly went into the ground. Here the capital of the Inca Empire arose - Cusco, the ruins of which can still be seen today.

The Incas entered the history of world art thanks to the beauty and grandeur of their temples. On the coast of Peru, many pyramids have survived to this day, but, unlike other American civilizations, they served for collective burials of embalmed bodies of the dead. Some step pyramids had a circular rather than rectangular plan.

One of the most outstanding structures of the Inca period is the main Temple of the Sun- “Golden Fence”. According to the descriptions, it was surrounded by a triple wall, which had a circumference of about 380 m. Well-hewn stones were tightly fitted to each other without the use of a binding solution. The wall was decorated with a belt of gold plates “four palms wide and four fingers thick,” as one eyewitness testifies. IN main wall there was a single entrance leading from the Square of the Sun directly to the sanctuary of the deity. IN central hall In the sanctuary, an image of the Sun God was erected in the form of a huge golden disk decorated with precious stones. An unquenchable fire was constantly maintained in front of him.

Around the main buildings were the quarters of the priests and temple servants and the world famous “Golden Garden” of the Incas. Its dimensions reached approximately 220 x 100 m, and the garden itself and all its inhabitants - people, birds, lizards, insects - were made life-size from pure gold and silver.

The Incas also achieved some success in sculpture. One of the most significant sculptural monuments is relief at the Gate of the Sun in Tiahuanaco. On the front side of a huge monolithic stone block there is a relief carved with the image of the supreme deity. The deity stands on a dais with staffs in both hands. His headdress resembles radiating snakes. The figure of the deity is squat, he has unnaturally small legs, and his face is wide and square. On either side of him are three rows of minor deities, or winged geniuses, facing him. The relief gives the impression of calm grandeur and power. The most mysterious thing in this building is the frieze calendar depicting human figures, animals and ornaments. Among the many animals carved on the Gate of the Sun, you can even find an elephant.

Works have also survived to this day ceramics. Inca craftsmen created jewelry from gold, exquisite luxury items, in which they used fancy graphic patterns based on mythological stories about the creation of the world, the struggle of heroes with fantastic monsters, as well as episodes from everyday life(hunting, fishing, weaving).

Nowadays, increasingly, the attention of scientists, and ordinary people, are captivated by disappeared ancient civilizations: ruins of ancient temples, treasures containing gold, weapons, painted ceramics.

All this amazes with its magnificence and inspires the creation interesting books and films. One of these lost civilizations is the culture of Mesoamerica, represented mainly by the Aztecs and. They left us the ruins of temple complexes and pyramids, where they made sacrifices to their gods, stones strewn with writing, obsidian knives and other objects. Also, in connection with 2012, attention is increasingly being focused on the End of the World according to the Mayan calendar. Indeed, according to the calculations of the ancient Mayan priests, a change of eras awaits us, although no one knows how this will happen and how it will turn out for us.

The Aztecs were a warlike Indian tribe that came to the lands of modern Mexico from the mythical Aztlan. According to legend, they were led by the god of the sun and war, Huitzilopochtli. They founded their capital on the islands, where they were given a sign - an eagle was devouring a snake held in its claws. By the way, an eagle clutching a snake in its talons is the coat of arms of modern Mexico. According to the myth, neighboring tribes gave them these lands, infested with snakes, in the hope that the newcomers would quickly die from snake bites, and the Aztecs were glad that a lot of snakes meant a lot of food. They built the city of Tenochtitlan, which became their stronghold and existed until the arrival of the conquistadors. The Spaniards destroyed the Aztec capital and built modern Mexico City on this site, which remains the Mexican capital to this day.

The Aztecs considered the supreme deity solar god and they brought bloody sacrifices to him on the tops of the pyramids, which have survived to this day. Most often, the young man who was appointed as a sacrifice was pleased and entertained in every possible way for a month, because he was the incarnation of a deity. After which they led him to the top of the pyramid and there they opened the chest with an obsidian knife, tearing out the heart. After which the heart was placed in a special vessel, and the body was thrown down to the foot of the pyramid. Various ritual tortures were also practiced. It was believed that blood gave the deity the necessary energy, otherwise the sun would not be able to rise into the sky every day, so the Aztecs constantly fought with their neighbors to capture prisoners. After all, prisoners were necessary for carrying out bloody rituals. A type of religious activity was the Mesoamerican ball game, popular not only among the Aztecs, but throughout the entire region, which, again, ended in bloody sacrifices.

It is believed that it was these cruel rituals and constant wars that became the source of hostility towards the Aztecs of other tribes, which played a role during the invasion of the Spanish conquerors. And the conquistadors themselves were outraged by this barbarity, which led to the decline of this ancient powerful civilization.

Also one of the monuments of Mesoamerica are abandoned Mayan cities

This people became famous for the emergence of writing, the creation of fairly accurate counting systems and calendars. Counting and calendar systems were also present among other peoples of the region, but among the Mayans they were more advanced. The Mayan language has been partially deciphered, so some written sources are available to scientists. Numerous frescoes, sculptures and other works of art also remain, the beauty of which can compete with the ancient ones. It remains a mystery why many cities were abandoned long before the arrival of Europeans. A variety of hypotheses have been put forward, but most boil down to droughts or excessive population growth, which has destroyed the ecological balance.

The Mayans, like the Aztecs, worshiped numerous gods, whom they considered mortal beings and “extended their lives” through bloody sacrifices. The descendants of the ancient Mayans still live in the Mesoamerican region. They largely retained the language and some features ancient culture their ancestors. Their ancient cities and temples are included in the World Cultural Heritage List.

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Artistic Culture of Mesoamerica Grade 10

Pre-Columbian America (before 1492)

Territory of Central and South America Cultural civilizations emerged: Olmec Aztec Maya Incas

The oldest civilization of pre-Columbian America was the Olmec culture. They lived on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the 2nd-1st millennium BC. The Olmecs had planned cultural centers and step pyramids, stone sculpture, objects of decorative and applied art, hieroglyphic writing, and a ritual calendar.

Architecture The architecture is poorly preserved. A huge stone head up to 3m high and weighing up to 40t gained worldwide fame. Its purpose is not known, probably cultic in nature.

New civilization The city of Teotihuacan in Central America. Two main temples dedicated to the Sun and Moon have been preserved. S. 54 ab.2

Artistic culture of the Aztecs In the 11th century, conquerors came from the north - the Aztecs, who created their own civilization. The main feature of the art of the Aztec hunting tribes was the worship of the gods.

The main place of worship of the gods were temples. The capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan, or Mexico City, now the capital of Mexico, was striking in its magnificence. The city center was on an island in the middle of the lake.

Aztec sculpture Monumental statues of deities were abstract and conventional in nature. The statue of Coatlicue is the goddess of the earth and spring fertility. It is made from corn cobs, jaguar claws and fangs, human skulls and palms, feathers, snakes, eagle paws, etc.

Reading. P. 56 ab 1 below, p. 57 Funeral mask Jewelry

Mayan artistic culture The Mayan tribe invented an accurate solar calendar, determined the length of the year, used the concept of zero, predicted solar and lunar eclipses, and invented hieroglyphic writing.

Architecture. Difference. (p. 58 ab.1) Egyptian pyramids Temple of the Aztec Inscriptions

Stadiums are structures with grounds for the iconic ball game. Rules of the game p. 59 ab.1 from below

Artistic culture of the Incas. The Inca Empire is an Indian people living since the 11th century. In the territory of modern Peru. There are legends about the emergence of the Inca Empire (p.61 ab.2)

Sculpture. Relief on the Gate of the Sun at Tiahuanaco

Homework: Art primitive man Artistic culture of Western Asia Architecture of Ancient Egypt Artistic culture of Mesoamerica. REPEAT FOR CHECK WORK

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Notes on religious and mythological concepts
in Mesoamerica

Mesoamerican religions are based on the concept of divinity.
all-pervading force, which permeates the world and finds its manifestation
in individual gods, people, natural phenomena and animate objects.

Nagual KAWAK(LIGHTNING)
brings rain and symbolizes fertility.
The concept of all-pervading divine power is key concept in the system of Mesoamerican religions. When Spanish monks tried to describe the "pagan cults" of the Indians, they quickly found a word that matched their idea of God.
IN different languages it was different:
at Yucatan Maya kitchen, y Cholan Maya chuh, y Astekov teotl, y Zapotec pitao, y juice masa etc.
However, modern ethnographic research, as well as a careful study of hieroglyphic inscriptions and Indian texts from the Conquest era, have shown that the Spaniards were far from the truth.

Cholan word chuh, and the words corresponding to it in other languages, are associated not so much with the idea of god or gods, but with the idea of human soul and things with it fate. The word chukh rather denotes divine power - an important component of the soul, which can be lost and gained and which is an unchangeable attribute of the gods and the mighty of this world, otherwise, how else could they be strong? This concept is more reminiscent of the Polynesian concept mana than European ideas about God or the soul.

Here's what the Mayans themselves say:

Chulel- this is the inner, personal “soul” located in the heart of every person;
it is also found in the blood vessels that are connected to the heart.
The soul is placed into the body of the fetus by the ancestor gods. It consists of thirteen parts and the loss of one of them requires a special healing ceremony in order to return it. Although the chulel can be divided into separate parts, as happens during the “loss of the soul,” it is eternal and indestructible.
In reality, everything important and valuable is possessed by the chulel: domestic animals and plants, salt, houses and hearths, crosses, saints, musical instruments, corn, and all the other gods of the pantheon.
The most important interactions in the universe occur not between persons and objects, but between the inner souls of persons and material objects.

They say that a man, from the very time of his birth, has more “warmth” than a woman; his chulel (soul) is stronger than hers due to more heat. The greater amount of heat is due to the fact that he is forced to perform duties that fall on his shoulders.
He is the one who continues what the gods began at the “dawn of the world.”

It is believed that from his very birth, a person accumulates “heat”, which is “ by the power of the soul"; when entering some religious or socially important position, when getting married or receiving a first and second name, etc. a person acquires an appropriate amount of “heat”. Various religious ceremonies, including bloodletting rituals, are aimed at protecting a person from possible “loss of soul,” which threatens a person with illness or death.

The concept of an all-pervading divine power is reflected in the idea that gods can incarnate in humans. Monumental monuments and small plastic objects have been found throughout Mesoamerica, on which kings are depicted as impersonators of gods, performing ritual dances, playing ball, etc. Elements of the rulers’ decoration, as well as signatures to them, make it possible to determine which deity in in this case impersonates the ruler. During the arrival of the Spaniards in Yucatan, there were so-called prophets chilams(literally translator), who, with the help of special techniques, “forced the gods to incarnate in them and prophesy through their lips.”

From hieroglyphic texts we know that not only people and gods, but also mountains, temples, steles, vessels, earrings, have their own “divine” names, i.e. have a soul.
The royal scepter is noteworthy in this regard kavil. Taking this scepter symbolized the ruler's accession to the throne; such scepters were found during archaeological excavations. They portray God Kavil- a creature with an ugly face and a large nose, whose body ends in a snake.
Both the god Qawil, who lives in heaven, and the small Qawil scepters that represent him are one and the same being. In addition, the god Kawil has " magical double"who is called the First Serpent (the serpent part of the qavil's scepter indicates his second essence).
This god is depicted in two ways: either emerging from a bowl of sacrificed blood, or in the form of a ritual object - a “celestial strip”, which is a two-headed snake, from whose open jaws Kavili peeks out. Taking the “celestial stripe” symbolized the same thing as taking the scepter - accession to the throne.
One of the texts about the “sky strip” says that “the king took God.”

Thus, the god Kawil not only exists in two forms, but in the countless scepters and “celestial stripes” that represent him, he also exists embodied in the kings who impersonate him.

The Teaching of Tonals, another important concept shared by all Mesoamerican religions, is a direct consequence of the ideas of a divine all-pervading power.
Different peoples used different terms to refer to this phenomenon: Astek tonal, naval ( nagual), Maya wy, lab, juice boor etc.
The essence of these ideas is that every person has his magical double - tonal; this person in turn is the tonal of the being who is his tonal. Man and his tonal are intimately connected with each other in a magical way from the very moment of his birth; they share one soul and one destiny. If something happens to the tonal, for example, if it dies or is killed, the same thing will happen to the person.

Here's an example modern fairy tale with a characteristic plot:
Once upon a time there was a woman who had a demon. The woman's demon was a fox.
This woman was blind, but she was supposedly very skilled in witchcraft. The woman's fox spirit was accidentally shot by hunters. She died immediately, because the fox spirit of the blind witch was killed. But the woman who died still continued to cast magic.
But this old woman was supposedly very skilled in witchcraft..

There was considerable variation in ideas about tonal.

Some peoples believed that every person has a tonal, others that only sorcerers and high-ranking people possess them. In my favorite way the sorcerer's tonal is jaguar. Kings and some gods also have “magical doubles.” It is with the help of their tonal that sorcerers can perform magical actions, for example, stealing the souls of people, causing illness or death.
According to legends, communication with and manipulation of the tonal occurs in a dream; In Indian beliefs, the soul leaves the human body completely or partially during sleep and travels through the “upper, middle and lower worlds.” It is at this moment that there is the greatest likelihood of “losing your soul.”
In this, the doctrine of tonals resembles the shamanistic ideas of the peoples of Siberia and North America.

Bloodletting, as a special religious practice, is a characteristic feature of Mesoamerican religions. Depictions of dignitaries performing bloodletting rituals are a popular theme in Mesoamerican art.

Various forms of this ritual were practiced. Using special ritual objects, such as the thorn of a stingray or the thorn of a thorny agave plant, the Indians pierced various parts of the body and collected the flowing blood on paper, which they then offered to the deity. The more painful the sacrifice was, the more effective it was considered - the earlobe, tongue, cheeks, and skin on the thighs were pierced.
Sometimes a rope was passed through the punctured hole, which became soaked in blood; such an operation is very painful. The Spanish monk Diego de Landa described one of the varieties of this rite in the 16th century:

«... In other cases they made a dishonorable and sad sacrifice.
Those who performed it gathered in the temple, where, standing in a row, they made themselves several holes in the male members, across the side, and, having done this, they threaded through them perhaps large number lace, as much as they could, which made them all tied and strung; They also smeared the blood of all these members on the statue of the demon. The one who did the most was considered the most courageous».

From Mayan hieroglyphic texts we know that blood offering was one of the main duties of the king; Bloodletting was accompanied by rituals associated with the accession of the king to the throne, the commemoration of ancestors, appeals to the gods and the end of calendar cycles.
Title wasting away (« splashing drops") is used as a synonym for king.

The practice of blood offerings is closely related to the idea of a divine substance permeating the universe. According to Mesoamerican ideas, blood is the material carrier of the soul that lives in the human heart. The Indians still believe that the pulse is its tangible, material manifestation.
By releasing the power contained in the blood, a person can influence the course of events, prevent misfortunes, feed the gods and even call them to life from oblivion.
Thus, on one of the stelae dedicated to the end of the 20th anniversary, in honor of which the Mayan rulers committed bloodletting, it says “the gods were born, the God of Night and the God of Day, and this was done by King Itzamna-Kavil.” Above the ruler are depicted the God of Night and the God of Day, who appear to be bathing in clouds of steam emanating from the spilled blood.

A person’s strength depends on his social position, on the position he occupies.
That is why kings, as descendants of gods and deified ancestors, have the greatest amount of power, which is why the responsibility falls on their shoulders with the help of sacred rituals, in particular bloodletting, to maintain world order, the well-being of the people and ensure the favor of the gods.
The gods are referred to in the texts as “the care of the king” - he must feed them, make statues, build temples, make offerings. If a ruler does not behave appropriately, his people and kingdom will face inevitable misfortunes.

The Astec tales about the creation of the world claim that the god Quetzalcoatl sprinkled his own blood on the bones of his ancestors in order to create community members, ordinary people. The myth clearly demonstrates, on the one hand, that the divine substance of blood has enormous creative potential, and on the other, that there is a clear opposition between kings and mere mortals, and kings are more gods than people.
The names that the heirs received upon accession to the throne equate kings with gods - they are a condensed description of some mythological subjects: The-god-Chuck is born-from-the-sky, Burns-the-Sky-god-Kavil, Sad-Heart-Hot(hot, i.e. “full of strength”).
The names of the rulers of the same kingdom, as a rule, mention the same god, in other words, they ruling dynasty had its own patron god, and kings were seen as its incarnations.

Bloodletting was not the only form of sacrifice practiced by the Indians.

It is known that the Indians fasted, without eating salt and spices, they burned aromatic incense, sacrificed birds, butterflies and people. The latter practice is also associated with ideas about blood as a container of divine power.

Doctrine of cycles of time played a huge role in the cosmological ideas and daily life of the Indians. The ancient Mesoamericans had amazing astronomical knowledge.
At the end of the 1st millennium BC, they developed an absolute dating system, which dates back to the mythical date of the creation of the world in 3114. BC (this calendar system is more accurate than the one we use).
Even earlier, they invented a sacred 260-day calendar that allows them to predict solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the movement of the planet Venus. This early development astronomical knowledge is associated with the need to accurately predict the change of season because a mistake of 1 day can result in the loss of the entire year’s harvest.

Calendar knowledge received a special refraction in Mesoamerican religions.
So one of the functions of the sacred 260-day calendar is to name people according to the day on which they are born. Not only people, but also gods received their names in accordance with the day on which they were born or performed great deeds.
However
a calendar name is not just a name (as a rule, the Indians had two names: one calendar, the other personal); it is also the sign under which a person is born, and his destiny. There were priests who made predictions about a person’s fate using special books.
Famous Astec books tonalpohualli with tables of days, it is more likely that the translation is not “counting of days,” as is often written, but “ soul count" According to the Spanish missionaries, the Indians could, using such books, “manipulate fate”: it was enough to name a child born under a bad sign with the calendar name of a nearby day, with more favorable forecasts for the future.

Mesoamericans believed that various astronomical events had a huge impact on their lives. If, for example, a pregnant woman sees solar eclipse, then she will have a stillborn child; Venus was a symbol of war, and the time when the planet was visible in the sky the longest was considered the most favorable for military campaigns; If maize is planted on a waning moon, the sprouts will wither on the root or be eaten by rats. [ And also Venus - the nagual of Quetzalcoatl: Xolotl, the Evening Star; at night he transports the solar disk through the depths of the underworld from west to east]

The Indians believed in cyclicality of world events,
therefore, round dates (400th anniversary, 20th anniversary and 52nd anniversary) looked especially important in their eyes; During these days, rulers erected monuments, tied them up and sprinkled them with blood in order to give them life.

One interesting episode from the history of the Mayans is connected with these ideas.
Kingdoms Naranjo And Karakol have been at odds with each other for a long time. Karakol often won victories, which were depicted on the hieroglyphic staircase. When the kings of Naranjo captured Caracol in 680, the first thing they did was dismantle the staircase and take it to their kingdom, where they folded it incorrectly so that all the dates were mixed up.
Thus, the kings of Naranjo tried to overcome the “cyclical nature of history” and change the course of events.

In hieroglyphic texts, kings often draw parallels between themselves and the events they commit with the gods and the deeds performed by the gods in mythical times. Some of these events took place millions of years ago. Thus, what was once accomplished by the gods at the dawn of the world and served as the basis existing world, is repeated by the kings, demigods, half-people, whose share will be the responsibility of maintaining the existing world order.

Cosmology.

In Mesoamerica there were complex cosmogonic ideas that varied depending on time and region. According to the Astecs, the world was created Tezcatlipoca And Quetzalcoatlem from the monster Tlaltecuhtli, torn by them into two parts: heaven and earth.

The world has horizontal and vertical divisions.
In the first division, 4 parts of the world and a center are distinguished, each of which has its own world tree connecting the worlds, the corresponding bird and color (west - blue, north - yellow, east - red, south - green). Each part of the world has its own patron god.
In the vertical direction, the world is divided into 13 heavens, the middle world and 9 hells. In the heavens are luminaries, gods, the souls of warriors who died in battle, and women who died during childbirth. A divine couple lives in the upper 2 heavens Ometecuhtli And Omecihuatl, who gave birth to gods and people.
The god of death lives in 9 hells Mitlantecuhtli and his wife Mictlancihuatl, as well as the souls of those who died a simple death.

In Astec cosmology there is principle of duality- the eternal struggle between two principles.

The created world went through 4 “world epochs”, each of which ended with the destruction of the world: fire, flood, etc. We live during the fifth era, ruled by the sun god Tonatiuh; it will have to end in terrible cataclysms.
Every 52 years the world is in danger of being destroyed, the gods decide whether to extend its existence for new period.

The worldviews of other Mesoamerican peoples are similar, but differ in detail.

The Mayans, for example, have different color symbolism, and the rain god Chak exists in five forms, located according to the horizontal division of the world ( White Chuck in the north, Yellow Chuck in the south, etc.).
According to hieroglyphic texts, when a person dies, his " white flower"(metaphorical description of the soul), evaporating, goes to the water world located underground, the path to which lies through the mountain.

The underworld is also the habitat of the tonals.

By the time the Spaniards arrived, the Aztecs had become simply obsessed the idea of an impending end " modern era" And destruction of the world. In their minds, the only way to maintain the existing world order and appease the gods was large-scale human sacrifices, for blood “the food of the gods” is the only thing that can give the gods strength to maintain world balance.
The priests tore out the heart and brought it, still beating and spattering blood, to the statue of the god, sprinkling it.

In 1478 During the consecration of the Great Temple of the Astec capital of Tenochtitlan, about 20,000 people were sacrificed over four days. Similar practices existed among many Mesoamerican peoples, but nowhere and never did they take on such proportions.

Doubts about the truth of religious doctrines were inherent in people of distant eras no less than in us. Of course, the historical and religious texts of Mesoamerica leave no room for possible doubt, but the poems of the Astec poets have also reached us, which were memorized and passed down from generation to generation. Many of them are real masterpieces of philosophical and religious lyrics. A significant proportion of the poetic works of King [ruler of Texcoca] Nezahualcoyotl (1402-1472) are dedicated to the Giver of Life and the Creator of Himself, and his praise.

At the same time, some stanzas express doubts about the truth and goodness of God, the prosperity of whose cult Nezahualcoyotl so advocated, as well as about the possible life of man after death.

Are you true, He who alone rules over all things, Giver of Life?
Is this true? Maybe it's not as they say?
Let our hearts not be tormented! Everything that is true is said to be false.
Only the Giver of Life will be the judge.
Let our hearts not be tormented! Because he is the Giver of Life.

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Presentation on the topic: Artistic culture of Mesoamerica

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What is Mesoamerica called? Central America, including Mexico, is commonly called Mesoamerica Cultural development peoples of these geographical areas in the period from approximately the 2nd millennium BC. and until the 15th century AD. commonly called the culture of Mesoamerica, or the culture of pre-Columbian America

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The oldest civilization of pre-Columbian America was the Olmec culture, who lived on the Gulf Coast in the 2nd-1st millennia BC. research has shown that the Olmecs had well-planned cultural centers and step pyramids, stone sculpture, decorative arts, hieroglyphic writing, and a ritual calendar. Olmec architecture is poorly preserved, as the building materials used were earth and rubble, covered with a thick layer of plaster. The oldest civilization of pre-Columbian America was the Olmec culture, who lived on the Gulf Coast in the 2nd-1st millennia BC. research has shown that the Olmecs had well-planned cultural centers and step pyramids, stone sculpture, decorative arts, hieroglyphic writing, and a ritual calendar. Olmec architecture is poorly preserved, as the building materials used were earth and rubble, covered with a thick layer of plaster.

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Olmec sculpture, represented by huge stone heads up to 3 m high and weighing up to 40 tons, became world famous. Their purpose is still not known exactly, but most likely they were of a cult nature. These giant heads, discovered during excavations, still amaze today with their monumentality, mastery of execution, and realistic reproduction of the individual traits of personalities known at that time. Olmec sculpture, represented by huge stone heads up to 3 m high and weighing up to 40 tons, became world famous. Their purpose is still not known exactly, but most likely they were of a cult nature. These giant heads, discovered during excavations, still amaze today with their monumentality, mastery of execution, and realistic reproduction of the individual traits of personalities known at that time.

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One of the famous sculptures depicts a young man with a wide and flat, as if flattened nose, thick lips and almond-shaped eyes, slightly covered with heavy eyelids. The height of the sculpture is 2.41 m, weight 25 tons. On the young man’s head is a tight-fitting helmet with headphones decorated with a relief pattern. One of the famous sculptures depicts a young man with a wide and flat, as if flattened nose, thick lips and almond-shaped eyes, slightly covered with heavy eyelids. The height of the sculpture is 2.41 m, weight 25 tons. On the young man’s head is a tight-fitting helmet with headphones decorated with a relief pattern.

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Wrestler (Wrestler) Wrestler (Wrestler) 600-400 BC 63x40 cm This basalt sculpture of a shaven, bearded man captures him in dynamics, which is almost unique for all sculptures of Mesoamerica. Although scientists are cautious in their guesses about who this figurine depicts, there is an assumption that it is still a ball player

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Monument 19 of La Venta Monument 19 of La Venta Depicts a man inside a curved snake, a man wearing clothing with the same distinctive marks as the snake. This monument is similar in theme to other Olmec monuments, which depict the emergence of a man from zoomorphic caves or niches

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Figurine of a seated man dressed as a supernatural beast Figurine of a seated man dressed as a supernatural beast 1200-600 AD BC 29.5x21.3 cm The nose and mouth are depicted quite realistically, but the figure has no eyes at all. Instead of them, the motif of flaming eyebrows characteristic of the Olmecs

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By the beginning of the new era, the Olmec culture had disappeared. What caused its decline is unknown, but it was replaced by new civilizations, and above all the city of Teotihuacan in Central America. In this city, from its heyday, two main temples dedicated to the Sun and Moon have been preserved. They are located at the top of a huge step pyramid. The temples were decorated with colorful paintings and brightly painted statues of gods. The eyes of the sculptures are inlaid with precious stones and mother-of-pearl. By the beginning of the new era, the Olmec culture had disappeared. What caused its decline is unknown, but it was replaced by new civilizations, and above all the city of Teotihuacan in Central America. In this city, from its heyday, two main temples dedicated to the Sun and Moon have been preserved. They are located at the top of a huge step pyramid. The temples were decorated with colorful paintings and brightly painted statues of gods. The eyes of the sculptures are inlaid with precious stones and mother-of-pearl.

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The most grandiose architectural structure is the Pyramid of the Sun, which currently has a height of 64.6 m. Unlike other pyramidal structures that had a stepped shape, the Pyramid of the Sun consists of four large, decreasing truncated pyramids, placed one on top of the other. On one side of the pyramid there is a system of gradually narrowing ramps that led to the sanctuary in the temple. The planes between the terraces of the building were constructed in such a way that spectators located at the foot of the large staircase could not see what was happening at its top. The pyramid was built from a huge number of mud bricks and faced with plastered stone slabs. The most grandiose architectural structure is the Pyramid of the Sun, which currently has a height of 64.6 m. Unlike other pyramidal structures that had a stepped shape, the Pyramid of the Sun consists of four large, decreasing truncated pyramids, placed one on top of the other. On one side of the pyramid there is a system of gradually narrowing ramps that led to the sanctuary in the temple. The planes between the terraces of the building were constructed in such a way that spectators located at the foot of the large staircase could not see what was happening at its top. The pyramid was built from a huge number of mud bricks and faced with plastered stone slabs.

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Most likely, the pyramid also served as a “sundial”, accurately marking the onset of the equinox. On March 20 and September 22, an amazing sight could be observed here: exactly at noon, the sun's rays caused a gradual disappearance of the direct shadow on the lower step of the western facade. The transition time from complete shading to illumination took exactly 66.6 seconds. Of course, in order to achieve such a visual effect, one had to have perfect knowledge in the fields of mathematics, astronomy and geodesy. Most likely, the pyramid also served as a “sundial”, accurately marking the onset of the equinox. On March 20 and September 22, an amazing sight could be observed here: exactly at noon, the sun's rays caused a gradual disappearance of the direct shadow on the lower step of the western facade. The transition time from complete shading to illumination took exactly 66.6 seconds. Of course, in order to achieve such a visual effect, one had to have perfect knowledge in the fields of mathematics, astronomy and geodesy.

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Several small stepped pyramids were symmetrically located around the Pyramid of the Sun, emphasizing the monumentality of the main building. In architectural decor there are decorations in the form of huge snake heads painted with white paint. On the head of each snake there was a corolla and feathers, symbolizing a particularly revered deity. In the middle of the 9th century. The city was abandoned by its inhabitants and turned into a pile of ruins. The civilizations of the classical period were destroyed by the invasion of peoples from the north, first the Toltecs, and then the Aztecs, who created their own civilization. Several small stepped pyramids were symmetrically located around the Pyramid of the Sun, emphasizing the monumentality of the main building. In architectural decor there are decorations in the form of huge snake heads painted with white paint. On the head of each snake there was a corolla and feathers, symbolizing a particularly revered deity. In the middle of the 9th century. The city was abandoned by its inhabitants and turned into a pile of ruins. The civilizations of the classical period were destroyed by the invasion of peoples from the north, first the Toltecs, and then the Aztecs, who created their own civilization.

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The main feature of the art of the Aztec hunting tribes was the worship of the gods. Surviving legends and tales tell of the numerous campaigns and bloody battles of this warlike people before they created a powerful empire with a highly developed culture. The main place of worship of the gods were temples, of which there were more than 40 thousand by the beginning of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The main feature of the art of the Aztec hunting tribes was the worship of the gods. Surviving legends and tales tell of the numerous campaigns and bloody battles of this warlike people before they created a powerful empire with a highly developed culture. The main place of worship of the gods were temples, of which there were more than 40 thousand by the beginning of the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

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The capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan, was especially striking in its splendor. The city center was located on an island in the middle of a picturesque lake, surrounded by buildings on stilts and dams, cut by canals. In case of danger, the bridges spanning the canals were raised and the city turned into an impregnable fortress. Alas, Tenochtitlan did not escape a sad fate: at the beginning of the 16th century, the city was conquered and destroyed by the Spanish conquistador conquerors. The capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan, was especially striking in its splendor. The city center was located on an island in the middle of a picturesque lake, surrounded by buildings on stilts and dams, cut by canals. In case of danger, the bridges spanning the canals were raised and the city turned into an impregnable fortress. Alas, Tenochtitlan did not escape a sad fate: at the beginning of the 16th century, the city was conquered and destroyed by the Spanish conquistador conquerors.

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Aztec sculpture reached a special peak. Monumental statues of deities are abstract and conventional in nature. An example is the huge statue of Coatlicue - the goddess of earth and spring fertility, the mother of the supreme god of war. This statue only vaguely resembles a human figure: it has no face, no head, no arms, no legs. It is made of various materials: corn cobs, claws, human skulls, feathers, etc. all this heap is symmetrical and balanced. Aztec sculpture reached a special peak. Monumental statues of deities are abstract and conventional in nature. An example is the huge statue of Coatlicue - the goddess of earth and spring fertility, the mother of the supreme god of war. This statue only vaguely resembles a human figure: it has no face, no head, no arms, no legs. It is made of various materials: corn cobs, claws, human skulls, feathers, etc. all this heap is symmetrical and balanced.

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Aztec funeral masks had a different character, reflecting the facial features of the buried person. Notable in this regard is the basalt head of the “eagle warrior”, in which the strong-willed face of the young warrior is masterfully conveyed. Small plastic works also attract attention: graceful figurines of a frightened rabbit crouched on its hind legs and a coiled snake. Aztec funeral masks had a different character, reflecting the facial features of the buried person. Notable in this regard is the basalt head of the “eagle warrior”, in which the strong-willed face of the young warrior is masterfully conveyed. Small plastic works also attract attention: graceful figurines of a frightened rabbit crouched on its hind legs and a coiled snake.

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The few surviving works of jewelry are amazing in their craftsmanship. Necklaces, pendants, earrings, and breast plates are distinguished by their elegance and precision of modeling. The few surviving works of jewelry are amazing in their craftsmanship. Necklaces, pendants, earrings, and breast plates are distinguished by their elegance and precision of modeling.

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The Mayan civilization achieved particular success. Long before their conquest by the conquerors, the Mayans invented an accurate solar calendar, determined the length of the year, used the concept of zero in mathematics a thousand years earlier than European civilization, accurately predicted solar and lunar eclipses, and invented developed hieroglyphic writing. The Mayan art was distinguished by sophistication and perfection. One of the most eloquent evidence of this culture is architecture. The Mayan civilization achieved particular success. Long before their conquest by the conquerors, the Mayans invented an accurate solar calendar, determined the length of the year, used the concept of zero in mathematics a thousand years earlier than European civilization, accurately predicted solar and lunar eclipses, and invented developed hieroglyphic writing. The Mayan art was distinguished by sophistication and perfection. One of the most eloquent evidence of this culture is architecture.

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Among the monuments of artistic culture, the best preserved works of architecture have survived to this day. They are striking in their amazing sense of proportions, majestic monumentality, variety, variety of architectural forms. These are not only pyramids and courtyards, these are astronomical observatories, ball courts, columns, stairs, triumphal arches and steles. Among the monuments of artistic culture, the best preserved works of architecture have survived to this day. They are striking in their amazing sense of proportions, majestic monumentality, variety, variety of architectural forms. These are not only pyramids and courtyards, these are astronomical observatories, ball courts, columns, stairs, triumphal arches and steles.

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One of the peaks of Mayan architecture is the Palace complex in the city of Palenque. 25 buildings scattered across a rolling plain. The main decorations of the complex are the palace and the step pyramid of the Inscriptions, three temples - the Sun, the Cross and the Foliated Cross. One of the peaks of Mayan architecture is the Palace complex in the city of Palenque. 25 buildings scattered across a rolling plain. The main decorations of the complex are the palace and the step pyramid of the Inscriptions, three temples - the Sun, the Cross and the Foliated Cross.

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The palace in Palenque stands on a natural plateau, rising almost 70 m above the plain. Inside the palace there are courtyards surrounded by galleries. Richly decorated with carved and sculpted images and inscriptions, the palace has a four-story square turret, which probably served as an astronomical observatory for the Mayan priests. The palace in Palenque stands on a natural plateau, rising almost 70 m above the plain. Inside the palace there are courtyards surrounded by galleries. Richly decorated with carved and sculpted images and inscriptions, the palace has a four-story square turret, which probably served as an astronomical observatory for the Mayan priests.

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The Temple of the Inscriptions is a 9-step pyramid rising above the ground to a height of about 24m. A rectangular temple was erected on its upper platform, to which a staircase of 69 steps leads. The walls of the temple are decorated with panels, richly decorated bas-reliefs and relief hieroglyphic inscriptions, thanks to which the temple got its name. The Temple of the Inscriptions is a 9-step pyramid rising above the ground to a height of about 24m. A rectangular temple was erected on its upper platform, to which a staircase of 69 steps leads. The walls of the temple are decorated with panels, richly decorated bas-reliefs and relief hieroglyphic inscriptions, thanks to which the temple got its name.

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No less unique are the so-called stadiums, structures for the iconic ball game. They represent two inclined massive walls running parallel to each other. Between them there was a court for playing ball. Participants were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet. The winner was the team that was the first to throw the ball into a round hole made in the stone wall. Fans were located on the tops of two walls, which they climbed using stairs located on the outside. No less unique are the so-called stadiums, structures for the iconic ball game. They represent two inclined massive walls running parallel to each other. Between them there was a court for playing ball. Participants were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet. The winner was the team that was the first to throw the ball into a round hole made in the stone wall. Fans were located on the tops of two walls, which they climbed using stairs located on the outside.

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Mayan fine art also had its own characteristic features. There was a canon in it, which was determined by the cult of the deified ruler and his ancestors. The Mayan ruler was most often depicted in war scenes or seated on a throne. The main attention of the sculptors was attracted not by individual features, but by the accurate and careful reproduction of a magnificent costume, headdress and other attributes of power. His face conveyed indifference and calm majesty. The image of the ruler was accompanied by a short hieroglyphic text containing information about his birth, reign, and military successes. The Mayan artistic culture had a huge influence on American culture of subsequent eras. Mayan fine art also had its own characteristic features. There was a canon in it, which was determined by the cult of the deified ruler and his ancestors. The Mayan ruler was most often depicted in war scenes or seated on a throne. The main attention of the sculptors was attracted not by individual features, but by the accurate and careful reproduction of a magnificent costume, headdress and other attributes of power. His face conveyed indifference and calm majesty. The image of the ruler was accompanied by a short hieroglyphic text containing information about his birth, reign, and military successes. The Mayan artistic culture had a huge influence on American culture of subsequent eras.

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One of the most famous South American civilizations was the empire of the Inca, an Indian people who lived from the 11th century. in the territory of modern Peru. The Incas entered the history of world art thanks to the beauty and grandeur of their temples. On the coast of Peru, many pyramids have survived to this day. Some pyramids were not square in plan, but round. One of the most famous South American civilizations was the empire of the Inca, an Indian people who lived from the 11th century. in the territory of modern Peru. The Incas entered the history of world art thanks to the beauty and grandeur of their temples. On the coast of Peru, many pyramids have survived to this day. Some pyramids were not square in plan, but round.

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One of the most outstanding structures of the Inca period - main Temple of the Sun. According to the descriptions, it was surrounded by a triple wall, which had a circumference of about 380 m. The perfectly hewn stones were tightly fitted to each other without the use of a binding solution. The main wall contained the only entrance leading from the square directly to the sanctuary of the deity. In the central hall of the sanctuary, an image of the sun god was erected in the form of a huge disk decorated with precious stones. One of the most outstanding buildings of the Inca period is the main temple of the Sun. According to the descriptions, it was surrounded by a triple wall, which had a circumference of about 380 m. The perfectly hewn stones were tightly fitted to each other without the use of a binding solution. The main wall contained the only entrance leading from the square directly to the sanctuary of the deity. In the central hall of the sanctuary, an image of the sun god was erected in the form of a huge disk decorated with precious stones.

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Around the main buildings were the quarters of the priests and temple servants and the world famous “Golden Garden” of the Incas. Its dimensions reached approximately 220 by 100 m, and the garden itself and all its inhabitants - people, birds, lizards, insects - were made life-size from pure gold and silver. Around the main buildings were the quarters of the priests and temple servants and the world famous “Golden Garden” of the Incas. Its dimensions reached approximately 220 by 100 m, and the garden itself and all its inhabitants - people, birds, lizards, insects - were made life-size from pure gold and silver.

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The Incas achieved some success in sculpture. One of the most significant sculptural monuments is the relief on the Gate of the Sun in Tiahuanaco. Pottery works have also survived to this day. Ing craftsmen created gold jewelry, exquisite luxury items, which used fancy graphic patterns on mythological stories about the creation of the world, the struggle of heroes with fantastic monsters, as well as episodes from everyday life. The Incas achieved some success in sculpture. One of the most significant sculptural monuments is the relief on the Gate of the Sun in Tiahuanaco. Pottery works have also survived to this day. Ing craftsmen created gold jewelry, exquisite luxury items, which used fancy graphic patterns on mythological stories about the creation of the world, the struggle of heroes with fantastic monsters, as well as episodes from everyday life.

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