HISTORY
We don't know what the Olmecs called themselves. That said, the
term 'Olmec' is used to describe artistic pieces that range from
monumental sculptures and altars to carvings and small figures.
Art historians say that Olmec art is on par with classical sculpture.
The Olmecs greatly influenced contemporary and succeeding civilizations
in the region. It is often referred to as the 'mother culture' and
inspired subsequent civilizations, including the Maya, Mexica, Mixtec,
Huastecan, Totonac and Tarascan.
These civilizations adopted the Olmecs' belief that a king's power
derived from and was legitimized by his access to supernatural deities.
While scholars debate the history of a people without a written
language, the archaeological record places the Olmec heartland around
the Bay of Campeche, part of the Gulf
of Mexico.
The first cities in the Americas include these heritage sites,
including La Venta, San Lorenzo, Laguna de los Cerros and Tres Zapotes,
dating to 1200 to 900 B.C.
GIANT HEADS
The most famous sculptures of the Olmecs are the colossal
heads weighing between six and 50 tons and measuring between 1.47
meters and 3.40 meters in height. They were carved in basalt brought
from the Tuxla mountains.
The mystery persists in how these enormous stones
were hauled over distances of 60 kilometers (36 miles) to San Lorenzo
or 100 kilometers (60 miles) to La Venta. Seventeen giant basalt
heads weighing as much as 20 tons have been recovered.
DISCOVERY
In 1862 the first of the Olmec colossal heads was
found in Tres Zapotes. The faces are of men with sunken eyes, flat
noses, full cheekbones and thick lips. They are all wearing helmets,
some with insignias.
PART
2, PLACES TO VISIT |
