The
ancient civilizations which flourished for thousands
of years throughout Mexico reflect in a monumental
way virtually all known aspects of early man's attempts
at understanding the universe - A journey through
the place of the gods.
The Civilizations were
interwoven in time and space and encompassed almost
every climatic zone and topographical area. The
basis for existence evolved around complex mythology
and religion in a stream of evolving cultural
ideals.
The gods and goddesses
in which the ancients believed ruled all aspects
of life and death sustaining the very universe
which they had created.
The earliest complex culture
known as the Olmec left virtually no written record
but their sculpture in stone is recognized as
unequaled. The great Maya, Toltec and Aztec cultures
which followed, manufactured intricate and exquisite
objects in veneration to their gods- sculpture
in pottery and wood, metallurgy, weaving, and
painting excelled anything which had come before.
Writing and enumeration culminated in the development
of an understanding of astronomical sequences,
which orchestrated the Great Theatre of the Gods.
The religions of Mexico
were Polytheistic - the worship of many gods.
Worship of nature and its elements - the earth,
the sun, the moon, the animals and plants together
with the natural phenomena such as lightning,
rain and wind were all related to the workings
of the gods.
Mythological aspects were
incorporated through the recounting of ancient
stories of the cosmic creation and relations the
deities held within.
The ceremonies and festivals
created and performed were to honor and propitiate
the power and enduring nature the deities represented.
The most important gods
were, the sun god, the rain god, the fertility
god and goddesses and the god of fire, death,
war and of maize.
The arts developed and
flourished in these ancient cultures, the people
utilized art to shape their observations of nature
and their aspirations to approach and speak to
their gods. |
