Introduction

Four entities of nature are the main object of representation in the artwork of ancient Mexico: human beings, serpents, felines and birds.

In ther representation, unique or multiple, they appear isolated or combined. The most abundant are those of the human being and the serpent; this, very frequently, is double, in a manner and position that are characteristic: two serpents, frequently figured only by their heads, are confronted snout to snout; the most frequent combination is that of the double serpent with the human being, whether its body, or only its face. The representation of the bird consists of, in general, its parts: its head, its feathers, its claws; when it is combined with that of the human being, it is shown, almost invariably, over his head. In particular occasions, that of the feline consists of water-related images.

The fundamental text of the hypothesis that this museum is to prove, indicates three elements: a mass of water, a human figure and a double serpent that combines with it.

We see figured, this way, the union of the human being and the two serpents, origin of universal creation, stepping over water; it would correspond to the representation of the feline; in what pertains to that of the bird, it only would appear here conceptually; symbol of elevation, as is easy to notice by the place in which it stands when it is combined with that of the human being; it would embody his effort to take what is created to its perfection. The whole significance of the mentioned text is explained of this sort, as well as the embodiment, in the works of art of ancient Mexico, of the four mentioned entities of nature.