All about the ancient tribes
Eagle : The eagle represents contemplative thought. When focused upon, this Mayan symbol assists in accessing inner wisdom. Known for its power of clarity – this symbol facilitates clear mental focus.
Tattoos were a way of pleasing the gods because most of the images that the Mayans would have would symbolize their gods. They were also a sign of courage and bravery because anyone that would withstand the pain and dangers that come with these body markings would get a lot of respect.
The jaguar , to the Mayans, was a powerful symbol of ferocity, strength and valor. Since the big cats can see well at night, it symbolizes perception and foresight. As a god of the Mayan underworld, the jaguar ruled the celestial forces of night and day.
History of the Aztec Tattoo Aztec tattoos were first worn by the ancient Aztec people who inhabited parts of Central America and Mexico. Their tattoos were applied as a part of rituals, meant to honor a chosen god. The art on their bodies was also used to differentiate between tribes and display a warrior’s prowess.
In Mayan mythology, the jaguar was seen as the ruler of the Underworld, and as such, a symbol of the night sun and darkness. The jaguar is representative of power, ferocity, and valor; he is the embodiment of aggressiveness. For some, the jaguar represents the power to face one’s fears, or to confront one’s enemies.
Itzamna
Both Mayan men and women got tattoos , although men put off tattoos until they were married. Mayan women preferred delicate tattoos on their upper bodies although not on their breasts. Men got tattoos on their arms, legs, backs, hands and face. Getting a tattoo was painful.
The Aztecs were a proud, fierce people and as their victorious warriors would return home, local artists would work away at crafting beautiful artwork for them. These designs were then transferred to the skin of the warrior through the use of tattoo , as a way of paying respect and honoring the triumphant champion.
Maya mythology describes serpents as being the vehicles by which celestial bodies, such as the sun and stars, cross the heavens. The shedding of their skin made them a symbol of rebirth and renewal. They were so revered, that one of the main Mesoamerican deities, Quetzalcoatl, was represented as a feathered serpent .
There is no Maya alphabet . Maya writing is difficult to interpret for a number of reasons. First, glyphs do not represent just sounds or ideas, they can represent both, making it difficult to know how each glyph or cartouche should be read.
Haabʼ
Seq. Num. | Yucatec name | Meaning of glyph |
---|---|---|
1 | Pop | green |
2 | Woʼ | white |
3 | Sip | red |
4 | Sotzʼ |
Symbols of the sun , the eagle , the feathered serpent and cactus were used in the Aztec writing system, in dates and time and in titles and names.
Aztec , self name Culhua-Mexica, Nahuatl-speaking people who in the 15th and early 16th centuries ruled a large empire in what is now central and southern Mexico. The Aztecs are so called from Aztlán (“White Land”), an allusion to their origins, probably in northern Mexico.
Huitzilopochtli
listen) (singular) or ocēlōmeh [oseːˈloːmeʔ] (plural) were members of the Aztec military elite. They were a type of Aztec warrior called a cuāuhocēlōtl [kʷaːwoˈseːloːt͡ɬ]. The word cuāuhocēlōtl derives from the eagle warrior cuāuhtli [ˈkʷaːwt͡ɬi] and the Jaguar Warrior ocēlōtl.