Owned by: Jessica Thornberry, Tyra Holliday, Shilpa Jose, Rachel Cherian

Mesoamerican Wonders in 6-

8 Days

Itinerary

• JUNE 4: Go to Honduras and El Salvador

Visit Olmec’s society.See stone human heads, large pyramids, and art.

• JUNE 7: Go to Guatemala (highlands)

Visit Mayan Society.Visit Tikal, Chichén Itzá.

Itinerary

• JUNE 9:Go to Mexico (highlands)

Visit Teotihuacan society.Climb Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, see

paintings, orange pottery, and markets.

June 4: Olmec Society

Olmec Society• The name Olmec means “rubber people” in Nahuatl (Aztec

language).• The Olmecs carved large stones in the shape of important

people’s heads.– Heads have been found in La Venta, San Lorenzo, and Tres Zapotez (all

in Mexico)– Historians believe that the heads represented warriors or chieftain

leaders.– The first head was found in 1862.– The largest head was found in San Lorenzo which weighed 40 tons.

Olmec Pyramids• The Olmecs built a pyramid in La Venta.

– La Venta is 2 square miles, but considered a highly populated area.– Major structure is a pyramid with connecting buildings.– Has a distinguishable cone-shaped top.– Historians believe that the Olmecans were trying to build a volcano.

• Volcanoes at Los Tuxtlas (100 kilometers away)

– Historians theorize that Los Tuxtlas was the original homeland of the Olmecans and the people wanted a way to remember their homeland.

Pyramid in La Venta

Olmec Art• Jade sculptures.• Pottery with intricate designs.• Baby figurines.• Jade jewelry• Sculptures of jaguars

June 7: Mayan Society

Mayan Society• Lived mostly in the Guatemalan Highlands; 300B.C- 900C.E• Tikal was the political center of the society.

– Comprises of 222 square miles of jungle around the center– Took University of Pennsylvania 13 years to unearth 10 miles.– Abruptly ended by the Mayans.– Temple IV: tallest structure in Tikal (230.98 feet tall)

• Wooden ladders• Historians believe that Yax Kin (ruler) is buried here.• Estimate that 250,000 cubic yards of stone were needed to build.

Chichén Itzá• Translates into “Mouth of Itza Tribe”• Believed to be one of the most powerful cities of the Maya.• Famous pyramid: El Castillo

– Top 7 Wonders of the World.– 79ft. Tall.– Famous for snake-like phenomenon that happens at the Spring and

Fall Equinoxes– Could’ve been used to track the seasons.– Marked equinoxes and solstices.

El Castillo

June 9: Teotihuacan Society

Pyramids of the Sun and Moon • Focal points of the city’s urban layout.– Pyramid of the Moon

• Completed around 250A.D• Located at end of Street of the Dead• Tomb found near base of pyramid

– Male skeleton and sacrificed animal skeleton

– Pyramid of the Sun• Completed around 200A.D• 63 meters tall• 215 meters square• Tunnel leading to chambers under the pyramid.

– Believed to be used for fire and water rituals

Pyramid of the Moon

Pyramid of the Sun

Teotihuacan Art• Murals

– Painted on plaster.– Depictions of animals– Way of pictographic communication

• People respected their artwork.– Well preserved– Largest available data source

Bibliography• "Giant Stone Heads of Mexico." Giant Stone Heads of Mexico. Ancient Wisdom, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicostoneheads.htm>.• "La Venta, Mexico." La Venta, Mexico. Ancient Wisdom, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm>.• The Olmecs: A Mesoamerican Wonder." The Olmecs: A Mesoamerican Wonder. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

<http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academics/religiousstu/writings/lavin1.htm>.• “Olmec Art." Olmec Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.aaanativearts.com/ancient-indians/olmec-art.htm>.• General Information on Tikal National Park." Tikal National Park. Tikal National Park, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.tikalpark.com/generalinfo.htm>.• "Ancient Observatories: Chichén Itzá." Ancient Observatories: Chichén Itzá. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.exploratorium.edu/ancientobs/chichen/HTML/castillo.html>.• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon". In Heilbrunn

Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot2/hd_teot2.htm (October 2001)

• Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot2/hd_teot2.htm (October 2001)

• "Teotihuacan Mural Art." Teotihuacan Mural Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.jqjacobs.net/mesoamerica/teo_murals.html>.