[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.28,0:00:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(jazzy piano music)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.52,0:00:08.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] We're in the\NNational Museum of Anthropology
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.35,0:00:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Mexico City, looking at one of four
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.44,0:00:13.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,large ceramic braziers,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.80,0:00:16.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vessels that were containers for burning.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.54,0:00:20.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This one represents a goddess\Nassociated with maize,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.48,0:00:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with ripe corn.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.94,0:00:24.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] The one we're\Nlooking at is Chicomecoatl,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.34,0:00:25.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or Seven Serpent.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.82,0:00:28.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And she is a very popular deity
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.48,0:00:31.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Aztec or Mexica pantheon.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.03,0:00:32.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we see her not only in ceramic,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.77,0:00:34.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also in stone sculpture.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.46,0:00:35.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] The association\Nwith maize is immediate.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.89,0:00:37.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can see that she's framing her face
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.53,0:00:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with four ears of corn.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.85,0:00:41.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this is such a\Nwonderfully dense sculpture.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.68,0:00:43.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] Beyond\Nholding the ears of corn,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.53,0:00:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I should note are\Nred and dark blue or black,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.88,0:00:49.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,making reference to the\Ndifferent types of maize,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.20,0:00:51.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we see her face here behind the corn,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.74,0:00:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her eyes painted looking out at us,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.66,0:00:56.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her mouth open with these large ear spools
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.33,0:00:58.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then framed by this fantastic
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.45,0:01:00.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and very elaborate headdress.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.39,0:01:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] Well, we know\Nthat costume was tremendously
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.10,0:01:04.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,important for the Aztecs, and\Nthis is a great example of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.94,0:01:07.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can see, for instance,\Nfour circles that would,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.95,0:01:11.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in physical costume,\Nhave been pleated paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.24,0:01:13.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] Exactly, and so\Nwhile all of this is in ceramic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.56,0:01:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's referencing the\Ntypes of ritual regalia
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.50,0:01:17.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would have been used.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.88,0:01:20.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] And this is exceptional\Nbecause we have so much
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.03,0:01:21.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the polychrome, that is of the paint,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.73,0:01:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the color, that still survives.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.16,0:01:25.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can see reds and blues\Nand whites and blacks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.63,0:01:27.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] Which are some\Nof the primary colors
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.71,0:01:29.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you see in Aztec art.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.56,0:01:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what's wonderful here is\Nnot only that we have this
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.12,0:01:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,elaborate headdress fairly intact,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.25,0:01:36.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also the rest of her\Ncostume, like her skirt.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.86,0:01:39.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In this very rectangular\Nblock-like construction,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.82,0:01:41.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,much of the polychrome still exists
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.39,0:01:43.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we have these red bands.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.17,0:01:44.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] It reminds me of architecture.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.91,0:01:47.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It seems as if the\Nheaddress is so elaborate,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.20,0:01:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it is as if she is wearing a building.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.26,0:01:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] They're almost obscuring
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.68,0:01:52.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or really downplaying the face.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.58,0:01:54.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] Although\Nthe face is so present,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.35,0:01:56.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she's coming out at us\Nwith a kind of intensity
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.66,0:01:58.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that captures my attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.45,0:02:01.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] This particular\Nface would have emphasized
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.17,0:02:03.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this experience that one\Nwould have if you were to walk
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.38,0:02:06.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into a temple and to\Nsee an object like this
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.21,0:02:09.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's emitting burning\Nmaterials in its body.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.95,0:02:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] And the\Nsmoke would be rising up
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.31,0:02:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from behind this, it would have\Nbeen tremendously dramatic.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.75,0:02:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Corn is so central to the development
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.98,0:02:18.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of Mesoamerican culture
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.71,0:02:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] Maize is the staple food crop.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.38,0:02:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that is very true\Nof the Aztecs as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.32,0:02:25.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we don't only see\Nthis particular goddess
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.36,0:02:27.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose name again is Seven Serpent
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.21,0:02:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or Chicomecoatl in Nahuatl,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.25,0:02:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we see other versions\Nof maze deities like Xilonen
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.52,0:02:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is the maize goddess\Naffiliated with young corn.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.26,0:02:39.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we even see corn in a\Nvariety of other objects
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.44,0:02:41.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because as the cornerstone of the diet,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.49,0:02:43.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it also became invested
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.12,0:02:45.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with these important sacred meanings.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.55,0:02:46.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] And the cobs themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.67,0:02:48.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are so beautifully articulated.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.04,0:02:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it reminds me of so\Nmany other sculptures
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.26,0:02:52.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the Aztecs of other foodstuffs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.32,0:02:53.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the same gallery this marvelous
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.87,0:02:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,representation of a squash.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.51,0:02:57.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And corn and squash together with beans
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.68,0:02:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,create a perfect protein.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.28,0:03:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] And so if we're\Ntalking about this deity
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.84,0:03:05.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within the religious\Npractices of the Aztecs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.44,0:03:08.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they had a very active ritual calendar.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.41,0:03:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And many of these monthly\Nfestivals would revolve
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.78,0:03:16.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around maze deities,\Nincluding Seven Serpent here.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.29,0:03:17.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Steven] And it would've\Nbeen on those feast days
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.58,0:03:19.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that corn would have been enjoyed.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.20,0:03:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- [Lauren] And so there would\Nhave been special tamales
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.12,0:03:24.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,distributed to people to be\Neaten during these festivals
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.24,0:03:27.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a very potent, very\Nsensual in terms of using many
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.59,0:03:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different senses, reminder\Nof the centrality of maize.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.86,0:03:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(jazzy piano music)