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Mayan Art Megathread

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Warden, Jul 15, 2016.

  1. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Tenochtitlan

    Yup, definitely Aztec, not Mayan...

    That being said, its probably the most widely known and reproduced-in-miniature-form pre-Columbian city that I have found on the internet. Found some interesting pics, but there are tons more on pinterest that have both professionally done models and some even done for wargames.

    aztec02.jpg

    243147b.jpg

    I really like how the little houses are built; they would be easily reproduced on a gaming table! Also the water effects are pretty cool, I love the waves on the previous pic.

    119217533_aa35047ac4.jpg

    aztec01.jpg

    d2802edfd5503f6f26fe18f5448b0e07.jpg

    Also some maps of the city, for reference. Kinda wish I had looked at some of these pics for reference before I made my temple city in 3D because of the way the city is laid out in the waters of lake Mexico.
    593_03_2-695x365.jpg

    Really like this big old map, even though the perspective on these old maps isn't up to later standards, its an amazing and detailed work of art!
    380e551a33d0732fe6681d96e0e5cea9.jpg
     
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  2. Bracnos
    Carnasaur

    Bracnos Well-Known Member

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    Hahaha that takes me back I made a replica of that in elementary school granted it was popsicle sticks and was badly painted but hey it was 3rd grade and I'm happy to say I got an A....I need to ask my mom of she still has a pic of it....
     
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  3. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Stelae from Copan, very clear and beautiful picture. Amazing the level of detail that went into these carvings, considering the stone age tools they worked with.

    Copan Stelae.jpg
     
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  4. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Copan's sister city and rival Quiringua is also known for its many stelae. Not quite as fanciful or experimental in 3D carving as Copan, but still pretty amazing.

    Quiringua Stelae.jpg

    Quiringua Stelae 2.jpg

    There is a good chance that during one of the wars between the cities Quiringua stole a few of the master carvers from Copan...

    Quiringua Stelae 4.jpg

    Quiringua Stelae 3.jpg

    0990-Quirigua-Stelae-Feature-Icon-674x372.jpg

    W0960-Quirigua-Creation-Stones-674x372.jpg

    Quiringua is also known for using elaborate full-glyphs on many of their monuments to depict words and place names. Not sure what the picture below represents, but it really brings home just how complicated the mayan written language could be.

    maya_quirigua_2stele_400web.jpg
    mayan-date-glyph-on-stela-d-at-the-ruins-of-quirigua-guatemala-B1CHJR.jpg
     
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  5. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Tulum

    Saw this picture online, it is a large photo but a gorgeous aerial view of a Mayan ruin I have actually visited! Amazing place with a beautiful beach, even if it is a bit crowded during the peak seasons. Definitely recommend it.

    aerial tulum.jpg

    Some pics I took when I was there.
    10806292_10204175581802700_4313015170138179546_n.jpg

    tulum 1.jpg

    tulum 2.jpg

    tulum 3.jpg

    tulum 4.jpg
     
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  6. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    Sounds like a pretty good vacation!
     
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  7. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    It was about two years ago now, and it was pretty awesome! First time to see some actual Mayan ruins. Goal is to see some more this year.
     
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  8. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Tikal

    Another few aerial and temple shots; one of the largest Mayan cities.

    492303-mayan-ruins.jpg

    Lifetime goal: go to this place someday and determine if they still keep x-wings inside the temples...

    imagesTY6CMW3N.jpg

    Tikalpano.jpg

    Tikal_temples_view.jpg



    And a few more pics from Yavin IV:

    Image-6.jpg

    Image-7.jpg
     
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  9. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Calakmul

    The Snake Kingdom, great rival of Tikal. Got a single, massive temple-complex that has been excavated and cleared of jungle growth, but the rest of its temples are still covered in jungle.

    calakmul 2.jpg
    calakmul 3.jpg

    View from the top! Can see for miles away. Want to go here someday too!
    calakmul 4.jpg

    calakmul 1.jpg

    View from the bottom of the temple:
    calakmul 5.jpg

    Also like most Mayan sites nowadays they have a museum that goes along with the ruins, with plenty of artifacts and other stuff, looks like some interesting stucco-reliefs that they have recreated too.
    calakmul-ruins-and-museum-4.jpg
    calakmul-ruins-and-museum-3.jpg

    calakmul-ruins-and-museum-5.jpg
     
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  10. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Another great picture of Tulum from the air.

    tulum-ruins3.jpg
     
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  11. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Palenque

    Love the aerial shot, you can really see the palace from this angle. Also just how greened-over most of the structures really are. And I love the fact that only the largest temples have been uncovered at this site; hundreds more smaller structures dot the mountainside under the jungle canopy that have yet to be uncovered.

    1026071311_f8141dcc8e_z.jpg

    Temple of the Sun
    palenque temple.jpg

    5260323646_4d6d24184b_b.jpg

    high-def color version off deviant art! Makes the temples look extra mysterious...
    palenque_by_riot23.jpg

    Also here is a video gam version; not sure what game this is in but I want to play it. You can clearly see the tower and the temple of inscriptions up on the hill (though I don't think its that high in real life)
    PalenqueAC4MP.jpg

    Tower of Palenque- no other structure is quite like it.
    IMG_0469.jpg
     
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  12. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    One thing the Mayans liked to do was make portraits of the political prisoners they captured in battle. Here are a few from Palenque:

    p22.jpg
    Palenque captive 2.jpg

    Palenque captive 3.jpg

    Palenque captive.jpg

    Also a face, carved inside the Palenque palace I believe, pretty sure supposed to be one of their kings, probably Pacal.

    palenque face.jpg
     
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  13. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    More artfully designed Mayan vases.

    Mayan vase.jpg
    by "Ax Chal" I think, from the Naranjo area.

    Alta Verapaz Vase.jpg

    Bat vase:
    Bat Vase.jpg

    the Chamal Vase, showing a black-skinned shaman
    Chama Vase.jpg

    Vision snake:
    maya_r12.jpg

    vase.jpg
     
  14. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Some old photographs taken my Mayan enthusiast Alfred Maudslay, some of the first actual photographs of many of these monuments.

    Stelae K at Quiringua

    Maudslay-stela-k-east.jpg


    Maudslay at Palenque (the pic said chichen itza, but its definitely the arched-roof of one of the Palenque temples).

    Alfred_Percival_Maudslay_(Chichen_Itza,_1889).jpg

    British Museum pic
    601.jpg

    Stucco work at Copan
    a8d8f0c9301fb95a03e77f8e961deffc.jpg

    Quiringua Zoomorph (zoomorph being the term for a giant rock carved in the form of a stelae on all sides, but still a giant rock. Often in the shape fantastic animal-creature, like a crocodile or tortoise).
    Alfred_Maudslay,__Quiriguá,_1883.jpg

    Stelae H at Copan
    Alfred_Maudslay,_Copan__Stela_H__,_1885.jpg

    Stelae A at Quiringua
    quirigua-stela-a.jpg

    Maudslay, also at Palenque, long before the Tower got refurbished in the modern era. Still has all the old forest growth surrounding the ruins.
    tumblr_muzdz8DMEs1rxgoj1o4_1280.jpg

    Another zoomorph
    zoomoprh.jpg zoomoprh.jpg



    This last one isn't actually Maudslay, but its stucco work at Copan. George Gordon, explored Honduras and the Mayan area a few years after Maudslay.
    Geaorge-b-Gordon-Hieroglyphics-in-copan-Honduras-1900.jpg
     
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  15. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    some Mayan warriors, mostly from costume performers down in Yucatan, like at the Xcaret. Helps give me inspiration for future skink priest ideas.

    warrior quetzal headdress.jpg

    Would love a skink priest with a headdress like that.

    d641ea946bad3feefdfe30a0c2b9e919.jpg

    3fbc097d07a21ffffd371be7963b5614.jpg

    53068499-shaman03.jpg

    from Apocalypto:
    apocalypto.jpg

    Impersonating a Coral Snake; could be a skink scale-pattern too:
    coral snake dancer.jpg

    article-2251220-169953AC000005DC-160_634x449.jpg

    Mayan Canoe:
    mayan canoe.jpg

    xcaret trumpeter.jpg

    yuknoom9.jpg
     
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  16. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    Also some artwork to go with the previous pictures; plus some Aztec stuff.

    warrior maya fox assassin.jpg

    mayan gods.jpg

    Xipe Totec (Aztec Warrior God)
    warrior aztec xipe totec.jpg

    Pacal the Great of Palenque, from the Civilization 5 computer game. Definitely looks more like the Tikal Temple of the Jaguars though.
    Pacal_(Civ5).jpg

    civvpachal.jpg


    Montezuma, emperor of the Aztecs, also from Civ 5.
    Montezuma.jpg

    warrior montezuma.jpg
     
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  17. Qupakoco
    Skink Chief

    Qupakoco Keeper of the Dice Staff Member

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    This thread is like an archaeological dig, haha. Awesome stuff @Warden
     
  18. Deet
    Jungle Swarm

    Deet Member

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    This is a great thread! I came to Lizardmen for the same reason. Love that Mayan/Aztec look. I actually posted a collection of photos I took in Mexico City to my blog site for my own reference. Most are taken inside the main cultural museum. Feel free to peruse and steal!
     
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  19. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    @Deet That is fantastic! One of my life goals is to go to the museums in Mexico City someday. They have some of the largest collections of Mayan artifacts in the world, and some of the most famous pieces are there! Plus it is the city of THE Aztec city.

    I especially enjoyed these pics :snaphappy::snaphappy:

    the Aztec Calendar

    deet_aztec calendar.jpg

    And I have actually posted pictures of this one before, Tikal Stelae 31, on the previous page of this thread. One of my favorite stelae. Your picture was way clearer than the one I found on the internet! Amazing and beautiful amount of detail

    deet_mayan stelae.jpg
    deet_mayan stelae 2.jpg

    Thanks for the added inspiration; I would love to see more pics of your projects/work on the Lizardmen over in the paint section sometime!
     
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  20. Warden
    Slann

    Warden Tenth Spawning

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    cool stock photo:
    29f52d889074c995f65a971ca997e377.jpg
     
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