Human Sacrifice, Militarism, and Rulership : Materialization of State Ideology at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, Teotihuacan

List of figures ix List of tables xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction: cognition of state symbols and polity 1(17) Motivations and ends 1(7) Structure and brief summaries 8(2) Theories and strategies 10(8) Background: data and ideation 18(20) Excavations at the Feathered Serpent Pyramid 18(14) Mesoamerican cosmology 32(6) The Ciudadela and the city layout 38(15) Search for the Teotihuacan Measurement Unit (TMU) 40(1) Principles of space management in the city 41(5) Monuments on the Avenue of the Dead 46(1) The Ciudadela as an integral element of the city layout 47(1) General discussion 48(5) Architecture and sculpture 53(34) Architecture 53(3) Sculpture of the facades 56(20) Temple sculpture 76(8) General discussion 84(3) Burials 87(35) Contextual interpretations 89(7) Burial patterns 96(18) General discussion 114(8) Offerings 122(78) Obsidian 124(16) Greenstone 140(19) Slate and other stones 159(6) Shell 165(15) Other items 180(5) Offering associations 185(13) General discussion 198(2) Overview: sacrificial and elite burials 200(20) Sacrificial burials in Teotihuacan 201(6) Elite burials in Teotihuacan and Teotihuacan provinces 207(13) Conclusion: the Feathered Serpent Pyramid as symbol of sacrifice, militarism, and rulership 220(25) Symbolism 220(3) Sociopolitical implications 223(13) Materialization of power in ancient states 236(9) Notes 245(8) References 253(19) Index 272