The models´design is heavily based on Mayans/Aztecs, but fluff wise you can make up what ever you want! Just check out @ZaGreekie ´s models!
Haha, Greek Lizards? Nice work by him but a bit far-fetched for me. I guess Toltecs Mixtecs and Zapotecs, even Inca (all of them are South American / middle American) might be ok then, the differences are a bit like the ones in Europe between Greeks and Romans, so most people without a history and or archaeology degree won't even be able to notice them.
Lizardmen (and the star-lizards) are very influenced by the Mayas and other pre-Columbian cultures of the New World. My favorite is the Mayans of course, but the examples you mentioned are all great ones, especially the Aztecs. Toltec: statues from the sacred city Tula (in Mexico), their culture also may have been partially responsible for the rise of the northern Mayan city states like Chichen Itza I also saw a replica of one of these statues when I visited San Antonio: Mixtec: I don't know a lot about these guys, but they have some beautiful Codexes. They were contemporaries of the Aztecs. Both are pictures from the Codex Zouche-Nuttall Notice the character named "Lady Six Lizard..." Aztec: the Lizardmen of Warhammer definitely take a huge amount of influence from these warriors, from simple things such as blood sacrifice to the whole return-mythos of Queztacotl coming back from the East (SOTEK). Other historical allusions are the smallpox epidemics that devastated their populations with the arrival of the Spanish (think Clan Pestilens...) Photo courtesy of @Deet Zapotec: these are one of those pre-Columbian cultures that I am getting better at identifying. They make a lot of small "snake idol" statues, normally of priests or warriors in a seated position, often with elaborate headdresses. This next one is a picture I took in the Denver Art Museum, makes me think of a skink priest... Eventually I will start uploading more of the Mayan or other pre-Columbian pictures I have, I enjoy finding these kinds of artifacts on display in museums or elsewhere. Olmec: definitely the best known for the giant, broad-nosed heads found across their homelands. Almost look African in nature, and were partially responsible for the myths that developed concerning ancient Africans or Israelites having travelled from the Old World into the New World and founding ancient, lost civilizations.
In my opinion, the Mayan-Aztec-pre-Columbian influence in the Lizardmen was even more pronounced in some of the old artwork. Here are some lovely examples from 5th edition and the "lizardmen collectors" book. In fact, if you look closely at the lower right-hand corner of the picture, you can see a Lizardmen mural etched into the background that is clearly based on a real-world example: The poses and drawings of the captives being taken by Lizardmen warriors are identical to the carving on Lintel #8 from the Mayan city of Yaxchillan, which I posted earlier in this thread. Its awesome to know that the artist (Mike McVey) who put together this diorama took inspiration directly from the source material! Spoiler: more old diorama pics
For me the best hints pointing at Aztecs or Toltecs in many cases are the more angular shapes. This is sometimes quite visible (depending on the era) in faces of statues.
wow you saw that thing in person? That's awesome, I have definitely never seen anything remotely like this before. I have been to a few non-GW game stores with decent scenery pieces, but something like this would be an awe inspiring sight!
It was pretty amazing. Warhammer World is a pretty cool experience. It was nice seeing all the painted models that I had only seen in pictures prior.
Found some good pictures from White Dwarf Issue 207 (Australia), page 78 you can really see how well the artist studied classic Mayan and other pre-Columbian art! Spoiler: WD207 link to warburton, classic Warhammer and 40K. Lots of cool stuff uploaded onto their website.
Found some interesting stone carvings from Bonampak recently. I only knew Bonampak from its murals (earlier in the thread), not the stone carvings. Depicts ruler Yajaw Chaan Muwan, ruler, capturing an enemy on 9.17.16.3.12.8 Eb' 10 K'umk'u (12 Jan 787 AD).
Also this beautiful carving, also from Bonampak, but I don't know the history about it yet I need to find it. BEAUTIFUL masterpiece. Spoiler
Another Bonampak stela (Stela 1) depicting a warrior complete in full battle regalia. Spoiler: stela 1 Bonampak carbon copy of the mural in progress! Great way to capture all the stunning relief of this piece of art Line-art sketch: closeup of the face (but reversed) Detail of the bottom of the mural (notice the tiny faces in the center and on each side) I really need to get a good book on this site!
Back home after nine months, and I got an amazing present from my wife!!!! Huge book with tons of information and great pictures! I will share a few of the good ones later. She knows me very well