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Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
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Mexican tomb reveals violent human sacrifice |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Monday, 13 December 2004 |
Thomas H. Maugh II
Los Angeles Times
Dec. 11, 2004
A newly opened tomb in Mexico's Pyramid of the Moon has revealed a grisly sacrificial burial that highlights two contradictory aspects of the mysterious Teotihuacan culture: the decapitation of 10 slaves and the presence of exquisite artworks unlike any previously discovered in the region.
The findings from the ancient "City of the Gods" about 25 miles north of present-day Mexico City reinforce the growing idea that the Teotihuacanos were a violent and brutal people and not the gentle, pastoral folk they once were thought to be, archaeologists said this week.
Larger and more impressive than any of the tombs previously found in the Pyramid of the Moon, the newly discovered chamber indicates that the pyramid was significant to the Teotihuacanos as a site for celebrating the power of the state through ceremony and sacrifice, according to archaeologist Saburo Sugiyama, who led the excavation.
The burial chamber contained the remains of 12 people, all apparently sacrificed, together with a large variety of offerings and the remains of various animals.
Ten of the victims had their hands tied behind their backs and were decapitated before their bodies were thrown into a pile on one side of the chamber.
The other two bodies also had their hands tied but were "richly ornamented" with greenstone ear spools and beads, a necklace made of imitation human jaws, and other objects indicating high rank.
"We don't know who the victims were, but we know that this ritual was carried out during the enlargement process of a major monument," indicating that it was a very important event, said Sugiyama, who has joint tenure at Aichi Prefectural University in Japan and Arizona State University.
The killing of the people and the animals "must have created a horrible scene of bloodshed," he said. "(The ritual) must have been one of the most terrifying acts recorded archaeologically in Mesoamerica."
Aside from the people, the most impressive find in the tomb is a greenstone mosaic figure "unlike anything that has ever been found before in Teotihuacan," said archaeologist George Cowgill of Arizona State University.
"It's really not all that similar to anything else from Mesoamerica."
The figurine is made of serpentine and jade that are not of local origin. It was found in an unusual "offering" at the center of the burial chamber.
It was surrounded by 18 large obsidian knives, half in the shape of feathered serpents. Each was about 1½ feet long, thin and delicately worked.
"It is a staggering achievement to take such a large piece of obsidian, which is basically volcanic glass, and work it so finely," Cowgill said. The feathered serpent is a symbol of maximum political authority.
The animal remains were found arranged on the sides of the tomb, especially on the end opposite the decapitated bodies. They include five wolf or coyote skeletons, three puma or jaguar skeletons and the complete remains of 13 birds, one of them an eagle.
All the animals are believed to be symbols of warriors in Teotihuacan images. Many of the animals appear to have been bound, and numerous other animal skulls were present.
The burial also contained obsidian human figures, knives, projectile points, shell pendants and beads, ceramics, plaques and a large disk.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1211mexico-pyramid11.html |
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Taphophilia?
taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)
ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"
DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries
Quote Repository
“Fear no more the heat o' the sun Nor the furious winters' rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta'en thy wages The sceptre, learning, physic, must All follow this and come to dust.” William Shakespeare - Cymbelin
Shirtless and Sculpted
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