This page will be focusing on Meso, Central and South America. Ancient Mesoamerica includes present day Mexico City, and extends to present day Belize, Honouras and western Nicaragua, in Central America. Central America includes modern day Guatamala and Costa Rica. South American focus will be Present day Peru and Bolivia, north of the Andes mountains.
Mesoamerica The Olmecs Teotihuacan The Mayas Central America Diquis Culture South America Paraca Culture Nazca Culture Moche Culture |
There are fundamental parallels between the art and artifacts from the ancient Americas and the other beginning civilizations throughout Europe and the rest of the world. The establishment of hierarchal societies and ceremonial centers that contain monumental architecture are familiar with many other globally ancient locations. The earliest cultures that emerged in these central American locations were the Olmecs in present-day Mexico (Mesoamerica), the Diquis in present-day Costa Rica (Central America), and the Paraca, Nazca and Moche cultures in present-day Peru (South America). These early cultures share similarities with other civilizations at their emergence, approximately 1000 BCE. From the Olmec culture, the building of pyramids within a vast ceremonial courtyard echo the ideas of ancient Egyptians, who build colossal pyramids, seen as man-made mountains; a structure that would transport the ka, or spirit of the deceased pharaoh into the heavens. Also from the Olmec, are colossal head sculptures, which are thought to have been sculpted to commemorate specific rulers, because of their individual likenesses. Whether this is factual or not remains a mystery, since the no written record survives from the Olmec culture. These sculptures are, however comparably similar to other cultures. Roman, Egyptian, and Indian are just a few cultures that also sculpted monumentally to commemorate a ruler or deity, even Oceanic sculpture from Easter Island follows this mysterious practice. Below are examples of this theme among different cultures, each with its own degree of realism and unique stylization:
Sacred sites of the Olmec, like the ancient Egyptians were planned out as a kind of ceremonial center, used for worship and commemoration. Teotihuacan and the pyramid complex at Giza are comparable in many ways. Both sites are complexes that contain structurally similar pyramids, temples, and a sacred avenue leading to the locations of the pyramids. Teotihuacan was also the center of an ancient city, similar to the complex at Giza, but Giza is characterized specifically by a necropolis.
The complex plans appear similar, even though they were constructed thousands of years apart, and the purpose of why the pyramid complexes were built are very different. The pyramids and temples at the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan were built to gods of the Sun, Moon, and Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. The Ciudadela, or fortified center, was a meeting place that could hold more than 60,000 people, acting as the city's political and religious center. The pyramid complex at Giza was a sacred place where the dead were commemorated, specifically rulers of the Old Kingdom. The pyramids were built to transition the deceased kings from their life on earth into the afterlife.
Another similarity between the two sites is the use of relief sculpture as a means of expression and decoration. The temple of Quetzalcoatl in the Ciudadela is adorned with relief sculpture depicting the Rain god, Quetzalcoatl, and also reliefs of shells and snails. Tombs similar to the Giza complex also contain relief sculpture:
Another similarity between the two sites is the use of relief sculpture as a means of expression and decoration. The temple of Quetzalcoatl in the Ciudadela is adorned with relief sculpture depicting the Rain god, Quetzalcoatl, and also reliefs of shells and snails. Tombs similar to the Giza complex also contain relief sculpture:
There are obvious stylistic differences between the relief sculpture at Teotihuacan and ancient Egyptian tombs, but both are used to adorn sacred places. Egyptian relief sculpture is characterized by the telling of events, in the form of a narrative. The ancient Egyptians also filled entire walls with narrative relief sculpture and painting, leaving little space in between. THis is known as horror vacui, or fear of empty spaces. To them, this would ensure the continuation of life.
One last connection between Teotihuacan and Western art is the use of fresco painting. The artists of Teotihuacan would apply pigments directly on wet lime plaster to achieve this, and artists of ancient Greece or Rome would use a method similar to this called buon fresco. Ancient Egyptians used secco style fresco painting, which requires a dry surface as opposed to a wet one. The examples below show stylistic differences between the Teotihuacan culture and ancient Greece and Egypt, but the technique used is fairly similar:
One last connection between Teotihuacan and Western art is the use of fresco painting. The artists of Teotihuacan would apply pigments directly on wet lime plaster to achieve this, and artists of ancient Greece or Rome would use a method similar to this called buon fresco. Ancient Egyptians used secco style fresco painting, which requires a dry surface as opposed to a wet one. The examples below show stylistic differences between the Teotihuacan culture and ancient Greece and Egypt, but the technique used is fairly similar:
Interdisciplinary Lesson Plans that Include References to the art of Mesoamerica, Central and South America
Discovery Education:
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/mesoamerica-the-history-of-central-america.cfm
Houston Teachers Institute:
http://hti.math.uh.edu/curriculum/units/2007/03/07.03.02.php
North Carolina Museum of Art:
http://www.ncmoa.org/artnc/lessonplans.php?themeid=4
The Incredible Art Department:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/Grace-Amate.htm
National Geographic:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g35/artifactsinca.html
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/mesoamerica-the-history-of-central-america.cfm
Houston Teachers Institute:
http://hti.math.uh.edu/curriculum/units/2007/03/07.03.02.php
North Carolina Museum of Art:
http://www.ncmoa.org/artnc/lessonplans.php?themeid=4
The Incredible Art Department:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/Grace-Amate.htm
National Geographic:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g35/artifactsinca.html