Art & Art History ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-13-1975

Abstract

During 1904-1911, Edward H. Thompson recovered some gold disks which have repousse designs showing military encounters from the Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza. In addition, there have survived numerous carvings and frescoes at the site which depict scenes of armed conflict and surrender. The disks, frescoes, and carvings have been interpreted as events pertaining to the conquest of the Chichen Mayans by invading forces from the Toltec city of Tula in central Mexico. However, in recent years, influences from Mesoamerican sites other than Tula have been recognized in the art style of Chichen, and it is known that Toltec features occur in stone monuments located elsewhere in

During 1904-1911, Edward H. Thompson recovered some gold disks which have repousse designs showing military encounters from the Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza. In add1tion, there have survived numerous carvings and frescoes at the site which depict scenes of armed conflict and surrender. The disks, frescoes, and carvings have been interpretGd as events pertaining to the conquest of the Chichen Mayans by invading forces from the Toltec city of Tula in central Mexico. However, in recent years, influences from Mesoamerican sices other than 'Iula have been recognized in the art style of Chich€n, and it is known tnat Toltec features occur in stone monuments located elsewhere in Yucatan. This has led to new theories regard­ing the nature of Toltec contact, including the possibility that their ascendance at Chichen may have been by peaceful means. It has also been proposed that the Toltec conquest of Chichen was effected through an alliance with groups from peripheral regions.

It is apparent that earlier interpretations of the gold disks should be re-examined, and the purpose of this study is to establish what information they provide concerning the Toltec role at Chichen in general. The method has been to analyze the artistic style of the disks and the accoutrements of the figures seen on them in order to determine if there are features which specif­ically link the battle scenes with Chichen or with other Mesoamerican sites. This approach has also been useful in indicating al least one probable date of manufacture, which may clarify what one of the disks represents, and it has shown, in contrast to previous opi11ion, that there are style elements which derive from Tula. This indicates that some of the disks, in common with numerous architec­tural structures at Chichen, reflect a mixture of Toltec and Chichen Maya characteristics which is suggestive of cooperation between the two groups. In addition to influences from Tula and the southern Maya area, there are items which appear to derive from Yucatecan sites, such as Oxkintok, and it is possible that an alliance was formed between the Toltecs and the Chichen Maya in order to perpetrate wars against other sites.

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Arts

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

UNM Department of Art and Art History

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ralph Lewis

Second Committee Member

Robert Ellis

Third Committee Member

Mary Elizabeth Smith

Fourth Committee Member

Carl Paak

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