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Abstract Symbols of Ancient America
Ceremonial Bar
This Ceremonial Bar is drawn from Stela N of the Meso-American Mayan site of Copan.  (A stela is a stone column with carvings, glyphs, and writings left at many ancient Mayan sites.)

Advanced in its symbolism, the Ceremonial Bar incorporates several other features found in other Mayan symbols.  Each side flares into a very stylized depiction of a serpent's head and gaping mouth.  This double-headed structure recalls the double-headed dragon image that appears in numerous Mayan carvings and symbols, reaching its largest expression in the double-serpent entrance pillars to the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan.

Further, in each mouth a small god-image appears.  These god-images recall some of the Mayan glyphs, but they also appear as the Manikin Scepter, another highly stylized symbol of ruling power and political might.

It is remarkable how such designs intertwine among symbolism of political power (this Ceremonial Bar), religious rite symbolism and astronomical alignments (the statues of the double-headed dragon), and architecture (entrance pillars to the Temple of the Warriors)!


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