Early Americas

Early American

Geography

The word OLMEC is derived from the Nahuatl--the language spoken by early Aztecs--meaning either

Dwellers of the Rubber Land or Mouth of the Jaguar.

http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html

Olmec 1500 – 400 B.C.

Olmec Stone Heads• Portraits of individual

Olmec rulers• When a ruler died,

his throne was converted into the head

• 6 ft tall & 5 ft across• Symbol on each

head for the ruler• The basalt was

quarried miles from where the heads were found

Olmec City Centers• Architecture –

pyramid mounds• Public ceremonial

buildings, elite & common housing

• Religious sites• Stone drains –

aqueducts (provided drinking water)

• Aqueducts were also monuments

Olmec Religion• At least ten gods

(polytheistic)• Altars were thrones of

Olmec rulers• Religious creed read by

the sages (wise person)

• Shamanism (similar to animism)

Olmec Writing• Hieroglyphic & Syllabic

systems of writing• Syllabic system of

writing had 13 consonants

• Similar to Manding (west african)

Why is Olmec writing so similar to Manding?

Olmec Calendar• Used mathematics

(including the concept of zero) and astronomy

• Two cyclical calendars (365-day solar & 260-day) created a 52 year cycle called the Calendar Round

• Long Count calendar used a starting date as August 13, 3114 B.C.

How advanced were the Olmec?

(and in what areas)