Based on imagery from authentic Mexican art and artifacts, these brilliantly colored temporary tattoos showcase the region's historical artistic variety. Four large tattoos depict the Mixtec God of Death, the Olmec Jaguar God, and intricate figures from a Mayan relief and an Aztec calendar.

Based on imagery from authentic Mexican art and artifacts, these brilliantly colored temporary tattoos showcase the region's historical artistic variety. Four large tattoos depict the Mixtec God of Death, the Olmec Jaguar God, and intricate figures from a Mayan relief and an Aztec calendar.

The Aztecs: The Ritual of Tattooring The Aztecs are one of the many wonders of history that continue to enthrall scientists and history buffs alike. A mysterious people that made their home in the Mesoamerican region during the 14th, 15th, and 16th Centuries, the Aztecs culture was built heavily on rituals, structures, and codes. Within these rituals dominating their lives day in and day out was the practice of tattooing. The Aztecs took tattooing to a new level. Similar to those tribes of Ancient Briton, the Aztecs were proud of their body art and created intricate, dazzling designs that still appear in modern tattoo culture to this day. But unlike the Ancient Britons, who tattooed for many reasons - including battle pride, worshipping, and recreational activities - the Aztecs' tattoos had one sole purpose: ritual. Aztec tattoos have continued to play a large role in the tattoo culture of modern-day Mexico, as well as fanatics worldwide. Today they are used to celebrate the ancient culture and follow in their footsteps by using the animals or deities that the tattoo bearer feels closest to. Some use the style to represent children's names or represent a word that holds meaning in their life. Regardless of meaning, these tattoos still top the scale on detail and complexity, even against modern-day designs.

Numerous primitive designs from early Mexican cultures are reproduced to demonstrate native decorative ingenuity and inspire modern artists and designers

Rich in mythology and art, the Aztec civilization dominated central Mexico during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries. This handsome volume contains 42 pages of authentic Aztec designs derived from ceramics, statues, altars, shields, books, and other priceless artifacts. Gods, rulers, warriors, slaves, animals, and activities both secular and sacred are brilliantly rendered by Wilson G. Turner, a skilled artist/archaeologist and a specialist in pre-Columbian archaeology. Brief captions identify each image. Artists, designers, and illustrators will find in Aztec Designs a wealth of ideas and inspiration for a myriad of projects. Colorists will enjoy adding their own conceptions of color to these ancient motifs.

This volume presents the collection of Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, and Classic Veracruz sculpture, jewelry, and painting. Four leading scholars present essays on the ancient art and archaeology of Mexico's Central Highlands, Southwestern Highlands, and Gulf Lowlands as well as extensive catalogue entries of over one hundred objects.

This intriguing collection of designs, adapted from Mayan, Aztec, and Mesoamerican works, includes powerful images of gods, kings, warriors, mythical creatures, and a variety of abstractions. Engrossing illustrations for coloring book enthusiasts of all ages, the designs will add an exotic pre-Columbian touch to a host of art and craft projects. 30 illustrations.

Reprint Edition of 1947 Edition. Originally published in Spanish, with accompanying English text, in 1947 as Sellos del Antiguo Mexico. Here is an unusual collection of pictorial material - 766 primitive designs. Contains 153 leaves of illustrations with 766 illustrations. The book reproduces plumed serpents, calendrical elements, wind gods, insects, toads, lizards, birds, real and mythological animals, flowers, demons, the human head and figure, and hundreds of abstract ornamental designs derived from carved seals of the Aztec, Maya, Totonac, Zapotec, Olmec, Toltec, and other early Mexican cultures. Contents: Geometric motifs. Zigzags; Triangles; Squares; Circles; Spirals; Steps; Stepped-fret patterns; Crosses; Various geometric motifs -- Natural forms-Flora. Flowers; Vegetables; Blue worm; Shells; Spiders and various insects; Butterflies; Fishes; Toads, frogs; Lizards; Serpents; Plumed serpents; Fire serpents; Flint serpents; Fantastic serpents; Alligators; Buzzards; Owls; Eagles; Hummingbirds; Pheasants; Aquatic birds; Quetzals; Various unidentified birds; Fantastic birds; Deer; Dogs, wolves (coyotes); Jaguars, pumas; Various and unidentified mammals; Monkeys; Fantastic animals -- The human body. Human figures; Heads and deities; Skulls; Hands; Fantastic human figures -- Artificial forms. Twists and braids; Rattles; 'Patolli'; Movement; Decorations related to architecture; Trophies; Emblems; Decorations of chronological significance.

The definitive textbook on the archaeology and history of Mesoamerica