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Overview Izapa was a very large pre-Columbian site located in Chiapas, Mexico, often placed in the Late Formative period. The site is situated on the Rio Suchiate river and also near the base of the volcano Tacaná, which is the second largest mountain in Mexico. The Rio Izapa also runs through the site. Izapa ranged over 1.4 miles in length, which made it the largest site found in Chiapas. The Late Formative period took place roughly from 600 B.C. to 100 B.C. However, archaeologists predict that Izapa may have been settled as early as 1500 B.C., which would make it as old as the Olmec sites San Lorenzo and La Venta. Izapa stayed occupied through the Late Classic period. The period of Izapa’s height is still unknown due to little material for carbon dating, so the issue is still widely debated.
Izapa is located on wet and hilly land made of volcanic soil, though it is still fertile for agriculture. The weather is very hot and very wet. The area around Izapa was a major cacao producing area known as Soconusco, which was used by the Aztecs.
Izapa and other Mesoamerican civilizations It is still unclear where the Izapans fit in with other civilizations of ancient Mesoamerica. Michael Coe describes Izapa as being a connective link between the Olmecs and the early Maya. He supports his argument with the large amount of Olmec style motifs used in Izapan art. Such motifs include: Jaguar-type mouths on humans, St. Andrew’s Cross, Flame-style eyebrows, scrolling skies and clouds, and chubby depictions of humans. Also used to support Coe’s hypothesis are elements in Mayan culture thought to be derived from the Izapans, such as: similar art and architecture styles, continuity between Mayan and Izapan monuments, and shared deities.
Some other archaeologists do not support Coe's argument. These archaeologists argue that there not yet enough known to support Coe and that the term "Izapan Style" should only be used when describing art from Izapa. Virginia Smith argues that Izapan art is too unique and different in style to be the result of Olmec influence or the precursor to Mayan art. Smith says that Izapan art is very site specific and did not spread far from the site. Izapan art most likely did indirectly influence Mayan art, though it would just be one of the many influences on the Maya.
Izapa is also included in the debate of the origin of the 260-day calendar. The calendar was originally thought to be a Mayan intellectual invention, but recently it has been hypothesized that calendar originated in Izapa. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that Izapa fits the geological and historical conditions better than the previous place thought to be the origin.
Site layout and architecture Izapa was a large site that included lots of monuments and architecture. The site had eight groups of mounds with between 80 and 130 total mounds, which roughly only half have been restored. Izapa’s architecture makes up for roughly 250,000 cubic meters when combined. The site included pyramids, sculptured plazas and squares, and possibly two ball courts. There are two long open areas that resemble ball courts found at other Mesoamerican sites, but it is unclear if these two courts were used for the ball game. Mound 30A was where a stepped pyramid was built. This pyramid was around ten meters high and probably used for religious and ceremonial purposes.
The site was situated just east of true north and is lined with the volcano Tacaná. The site also seems to be situated to the December solstice horizon; much of the architecture faces this horizon.
Izapan art Izapa gains its fame through its art style. The art found at the site ranges mainly includes sculptures of stelae and also altars that look like frogs. The stelae and frog altars generally went together, the toads symbolized rain. Much of the art of Izapa that features people includes large groups of people, not individuals. There are common characteristics of Izapan art, such as: winged objects, large lipped gods, Olmec-like swirling sky and clouds, feline mouth used as frame, representation of animals (crocodile, jaguar, frog, fish, birds), overlapping, and lack of dates. There are over 250 sculptures located at Izapa.
Izapa Stela 1 features a long lipped deity, which Coe describes as the early version of Mayan god of lightning and rain, GI. In Stela I, the god is walking on water while collecting fish into a basket and also wearing a basket of water on his back.
Izapa Stela 3 shows a deity wielding a club. This deity’s leg turns into a serpent while twisting around his body. This could be an early form of the Mayan God K, who carried a staff.
Izapa Stela 4 depicts a bird dance, which has a king being transformed into a bird. The scene is most likely connected with the Principle Bird Deity. This transformation could symbolize shamanism and ecstasy, meaning the shaman-ruler used hallucinogens to journey to another world. The type of political system that was in place at Izapa is still unknown, though Stela 4 could suggest that a shaman was in charge. This shaman-ruler would serve the role of both the political and religious leader.
Izapa Stela 5 illustrates a central tree, which was thought to be the source of life and human power; humans emerge from this central tree. Stela 5 also has an elderly couple depicted; this couple is thought to be the ancestors of all men flowing from the tree.
Izapa Stela 8 shows a ruler seated on a throne. The scene shown on Stela 8 is often compared to Throne 1, which was located by the central pillar of Izapa. Stela 8 may be showing a ruler seated atop Throne 1.
Izapa Stela 21 is a rare depiction of violence involving deities. The Stela illustrates a warrior holding the head of a decapitated god.
Izapa Stela 25 possibly contains a scene from the Popol Vuh. The image depicted on Stela 25 is most likely the hero twins shooting a perched Principle Bird Deity with a blowgun. This scene is also shown on the Mayan pot called the, "Blowgunner Pot". It is also suggested that Stela 25 could be seen as a map of the night sky, which was used to tell the story of the Hero Twins shooting the bird deity. The name Popol Vuh was also adopted by two European rock bands; see Popol Vuh (Norwegian band) (1970s) and Popol Vuh (German band) (1970–2002). ...
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