by Mildred Boyd
The
Spanish were amazed to find that Moctezumas palace amenities included
a fairly comprehensive zoo. It should not have been surprising. Animals
played several important roles in the lives of early Mesoamericans; as
food, objects of fear and worship, even as pets. Game animals were lured
and conciliated by the sympathetic hunting magic of such rituals as the
Yaqui Deer Dance. Predators were propitiated and kept at bay by similar
rites. Many gods took on animal aspects. Ce Atl Topiltzin, as Feathered
Serpent, Dog God and Monkey God, was a small menagerie in himself.
There was often a personal association as
well. Since many calendrical day names were animals and every person bore
the name of his birthday, most people had animal names like 8-Deer, 13-Rabbit
etc.. Furthermore, everyone was believed to be born with an invisible
and mysterious other, an alter-ego which frequently took animal
form.
There is little wonder, then, that animals
were a favorite subject of artists. We find them everywhere, painted on
walls and dishes, carved in stone, wood or bone, cast in precious metals,
woven in textiles and molded in clay. They took the form of monumental
statues, ritual vessels, incense burners, masks and even wheeled pull-toys.
Tiny figurines found in graves at Tlatilco and dating from 800-500 BC
show women cuddling pets.
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