Does it speak to a broader Mesoamerican belief structure?
Analysis of Sarcophagus Lid To the untrained Western eye ancient Mesoamerican art is often complex and difficult to decipher. For this paper assignment you will develop an iconographic analysis of the lid of the sarcophagus of Lord K’inich Janaab’ Pakal of Palenque, 615-683 CE. First attempt to isolate and identify individual elements and motifs within the work. Consider the types of images being incorporated, their context, their style, and their interrelationships. Are these elements literal or symbolic? How might these elements be interpreted? What meaning can be deciphered from the iconography? As a whole what information or purpose does the image convey? Does it speak to a broader Mesoamerican belief structure? You must provide supporting evidence for your analysis and interpretation.
