Olmecs.2C jaguars.2C and the .22were-jaguar.22 Jaguars in Mesoamerican cultures




clay jaguar monte alban, provisionally dated 200 bc ad 600. height: 56 cm (22 inches)


the olmec civilization first defined distinctive art style @ turn of nineteenth century. various sculpture, figurines, , celts recognized olmec heartland on southern gulf coast, reveal these people knew jungle companions , incorporated them mythology.


in surviving olmec archaeological record, jaguars portrayed naturalistically, rather combination of feline , human characteristics. these feline anthropomorphic figures may range human figure slight jaguar characteristics depictions of shamanistic transformations in so-called transformative pose, kneeling hands on knees, figures feline.


one of prominent, distinctive, , enigmatic olmec designs appear in archaeological record has been were-jaguar . seen not in figurines, motif may found carved jade “votive axes” , celts, engraved onto various portable figurines of jade, , depicted on several altars , such @ la venta. were-jaguar babies held stoic, seated adult male.


the were-jaguar figure characterized distinctive down-turned mouth fleshy lips, almond-shaped eyes, , cleft head similar – said – of male jaguar has cleft running vertically length of head.


it not known were-jaguar represented olmec, , may have represented different things @ different times.







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