Murals and the Development of Merchant Activity at Chichen Itza

Murals and the Development of Merchant Activity at Chichen Itza

Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2005-10-04 Murals and the Development of Merchant Activity at Chichen Itza De Luna Lucha Aztzin Martinez Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Anthropology Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Martinez, De Luna Lucha Aztzin, "Murals and the Development of Merchant Activity at Chichen Itza" (2005). Theses and Dissertations. 674. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/674 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. MURALS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MERCHANT ACTIVITY AT CHICHEN ITZA by Lucha Aztzin Martinez de Luna A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts Department of Anthropology Brigham Young University December 2005 Copyright © 2005 Lucha Aztzin Martinez de Luna All Rights Reserved BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by Lucha Aztzin Martinez de Luna This thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory. _______________________ __________________________________ Date Donald W. Forsyth, Chair ________________________ ___________________________________ Date John E. Clark ________________________ ___________________________________ Date Allen Christenson BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY As Chair of the candidate’s graduate committee, I have read the thesis of Lucha Aztzin Martinez de Luna in its final form and have found that (1) its format, citations, and bibliographical style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements; (2) its illustrative materials including figures, tables, and charts are in in place; and (3) the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library. ___________________________ ____________________________________ Date Donald W. Forsyth Chair, Graduate Committee Accepted for the Department ____________________________________ Donald W. Forsyth Graduate Coordinator Accepted for the College ____________________________________ Elaine Walton Associate Dean, College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences ABSTRACT MURALS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MERCHANT ACTIVITY AT CHICHEN ITZA Lucha Aztzin Martinez de Luna Department of Anthropology Masters of Arts The militaristic interpretations of the art of Chichen Itza, Yucatán, Mexico, fails to sufficiently describe its entire decorative program. Absent from discussions of the art tradition is the apparent focus on merchant activity in the city. The influence and power of merchants strengthened during the transition from the Classic to Postclassic in Mesoamerica. With an increase in demand of foreign goods, new exchange relationships developed between centers in Central Mexico, the Gulf, and Maya region. As a result, several cultural regions participated in a vast economic network that created political alliances and syncretic art styles. Focusing on the mural tradition of Chichen Itza, this study proposes a chronological sequence for the wall paintings by examining their style, subject matter, and architectural setting. Analysis of the painted images demonstrates the progressive development of merchant activity in the city and its influence in establishing Chichen Itza as one of the major centers of long-distance trade by the Terminal Classic. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………v List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………….ix I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1. Chichen Itza............................................................................................................ 3 2. Historical Interpretations of Chichen Itza............................................................... 8 II. Previous Scholarship of Murals ................................................................................... 19 1. Upper Temple of the Jaguars ................................................................................ 19 2. The Las Monjas Complex..................................................................................... 27 3. The Temple of the Warriors Complex.................................................................. 28 4. Summary............................................................................................................... 31 III. General Considerations............................................................................................... 32 1. Definition of Murals .............................................................................................. 32 2. Evidence of Murals in the Maya Archaeological Record..................................... 35 3. Summary............................................................................................................... 44 IV. Description of the Chichen Itza Murals...................................................................... 49 1. Location of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars Murals .......................................... 49 2. Description of the Upper Temple of Jaguars Murals............................................ 54 3. Lintel..................................................................................................................... 55 4. Mural Panels......................................................................................................... 56 5. Center East............................................................................................................ 56 vi 6. Northeast Panel..................................................................................................... 59 7. North Panel........................................................................................................... 61 8. Northwest Panel.................................................................................................... 61 9. Southwest Panel.................................................................................................... 63 10. South Panel ........................................................................................................... 68 11. Southeast Panel ..................................................................................................... 68 12. The Las Monjas Murals ........................................................................................ 70 13. The Temple of the Warriors Murals ..................................................................... 76 14. Inner Sancturary-Area 31...................................................................................... 78 15. Inner Sanctuary-West Wall................................................................................... 80 16. Front Chamber-Area 15 and 16 ............................................................................ 81 17. Front Chamber-Areas 19, 20, 21........................................................................... 84 18. Temple of the Warriors Exterior........................................................................... 85 19. North Colonnade Capstone................................................................................... 86 20. The Temple of the Chac Mool Murals.................................................................. 87 21. Temple of the Chac Mool Benches....................................................................... 91 22. Temple of the Big Tables-Substructure ................................................................ 92 23. Temple of the Owls Capstone............................................................................... 93 24. Capstone from the Temple and Tomb of the Painted Capstone ........................... 95 V.Analysis of Mural Content and Style............................................................................ 97 1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 97 2. Stylistic Analysis of Murals.................................................................................. 97 vii 3. Supernaturals and Serpents................................................................................. 100 4. Historical Events................................................................................................. 111 5. Aristocratic Themes............................................................................................ 123 6. Summary............................................................................................................. 125 VI.Chichen Itza and Trade.......................................................................................... 129 1. Introduction......................................................................................................... 129 2. Basic Concepts of Trade ..................................................................................... 129 3. Evidence of Long-Distance Trade Activities in Northern Yucatán ................... 133 4. Northern Yucatán Exports .................................................................................. 134 5. Imported Cultural

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