Aztec & Other Mexican Indian Designs

Book excerpt: Long before the European discovered the riches of America, the Mexican Indians had developed and passed on unique artistic traditions. The Aztecs in particular inherited the Toltec and Mixtec cultures, as well as instilling their own experiences and beliefs into the local artwork. A broad spectrum of these bold and intricate patterns and motifs -- serpents, monsters, calendar stone designs, eagles, sun-designs, architectural ornaments, pottery decoration, et cetera -- is presented here.