Monkey on the malacatl: Investigations into the Imagery of Aztec Spindle Whorls Open Access

Abstract

Previous studies of Postclassic spindle whorls from Central Mexico have tended to focus on the production of typologies rather than the examination of the imagery of individual whorls. This has led to an oversight in terms of both the form and function of spindle whorls as real objects used in the world and how they manifest such imagery. In this paper, I detail how the embodied use of four Aztec (1000-1400 AD) spindle whorls from two different museum collections can allow for a more nuanced interpretation of the imagery on them. Through close looking, I show how this imagery can be connected to larger themes across Aztec society, particularly that of ritual sacrifice on the temalacatl and the observation of regular cycles in the natural world, such as that relating to wind, monkeys, and the deity Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl.

Table of Contents

1 – Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1

2 – Spinning & Weaving in Central Mexico ................................................................................3

3 – Literature Review ....................................................................................................................6

4 –The Peabody whorl .................................................................................................................13

5 –Monkey on the malacatl ..........................................................................................................22

6 – Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................28

7 – Bibliography ...........................................................................................................................31

8 – Illustrations .............................................................................................................................33

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Art History
Degree	M.A.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Art History Anthropology, Archaeology Museology
Keyword	Spindle whorl Quetzalcoatl Aztec Monkey Mexica
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Megan E. O'Neil, Emory University
Committee Members	Susan E. Gagliardi, Emory University Todd Cronan, Emory University

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