The Arrival of the Warrior Spirits: A Moche Composition (The Fox Warrior Section)

Clifford C. Richey April 2013

Illustration 1: Rollout Drawing Credit: Donna McClelland

It might be helpful to read: http://www.scribd.com/doc/125076415/Universal-Prehistoric-Depicted-Sign-Language when reading this paper as it explains the use of Form, Imagery, Gesture signs, Stance, allusion and position as used in composing glyphs.

Illustration 2: Section of Composition Covered A multitude of warrior-spirits march together like the seasonal migration of a flock of birds or the similar seasonal swarming of insects. The scene might represent a meteor shower because the culture believed that the stars were ancestor spirits --the returning of the spirits to earth. The (rightward) Stance of their Legs and Feet is the sign for arriving. The direction of their travel is toward the right or the west according to the rules of gesture signing. The Cacti by their feet represent pain and hardship. The appearance of the Fox in the composition represents something very clever or wondrous perhaps akin to a miracle. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that Moche compositions were based on the essence of things found in nature and these illustrated associations were used as words and phrases creating complex messages related to Moche belief and cosmology. Due to the complexity of this composition only one section will be translated at a time.

Illustration 3: Composition Section that Includes, the Fox Warrior, The Little Eagle, and the Lizard

Illustration 4: The Wondrous Warrior Heading West

Color Coded The Fox-Warrior The Arriving warrior spirits, The Fox, the clever one or the wondrous one. The (yellow) Large Knife, the Great Ray of the Sun (a great warrior of the Sun). The War Club, the penetrator or the planter (positional) on the side of the Concentric Circles with its light center, the hill. Moving (the undulating body) upwards (Stance) the Serpent, the stream. The horizontal-place (green Rectangle on forehead of the figure) the one. Above it is the V shaped opening sign with a Single Line, the one positioned within it the V that connects to the Serpent Imagery). The (red) Triangle indicating the earth-female. Within the Triangle are two signs which appear to be a small Circle and a small Rectangle meaning the location, the one, the place. The within the opening phrase is repeated for the connection with the Serpent Imagery that, in effect, places the stream within the opening on the earth's surface. The Undulations of the Serpents Body indicates motion or movement. The Stance is upwards and terminates at The Serpent's Head. The Serpent's Face (Fox Head), wondrous, his ( the Fox's Head/Face) appearance at the V shaped sign for an opening, the Serpent's Mouth. The Mouth of the stream, a water source. The Form of the Ear is the (red) Triangular Form of the earth-female. Thus located, at a hole in the earth. The arriving warrior spirits, The wondrous one, The great warrior of the Sun, The war club. The one that plants,

On the hillside. Moving upwards, The steam, Within, The opening, Of The earth-female's, surface. Wondrous, His appearance, At the opening, In the surface of the earth. The water-source, A hole, In the earth-female's, Surface.

Illustration 5: Color Coded Continued

The Fox's Face, his wondrous appearance, The Eye, The Eye of the Sun, Venus (aka the warrior's star), the Hand (the steward of the Sun) held, (Form of a Hand holding the Eye) the one, his location, in the darkness (the Pupil). His wondrous appearance, The Eye of the Sun, Venus, The steward of the Sun, In the darkness, The (dark) Nose in the Form of the sign for the underside, or the underworld. (the Nose also alluding to the dual orifices or holes) is in the Form of the the underside or underworld sign and is dark. Venus, the steward of the Sun, the vertical-place, on the sides arising. The Ear (alluding to the orifice or hole of the ear).

The holes, Of The dark underworld, The Eye of the Sun, Venus, On The sides, arising. The Mouth, the water source, The Tongue as a severed Finger pointing inward. The entire Mouth is in the Form of the V Shaped gesture sign for an opening and the Tongue as a Line within it). The one within the opening, positional, the (white) Chin, a Rectangular horizontal-place sign. The water-source, The one within the opening, A horizontal-place. The Cheek and Forehead were composed of a dark Leg and Foot ( a long walk or journey) whose Stance is (the Undulations of the side of the Leg indicate movement or moving) upward and positioned on the underside of the (green) horizontal-place sign. The Leg/Foot incorporated the Eye thus, The long walk Of The Eye, Venus, In the darkness, Moving, Upwards Under the surface, Of The horizontal-place.

Illustration 6: Sitting Bird Next to and below the Leg/Foot is the Imagery of a small (blue gray) Bird in a Sitting Stance, awaiting-flight. It is sitting within the Bowl (held as in a bowl) shaped Form created by a (light tan) Large severed Finger, relative to the composition, (the great one) that is curved and pointing up to the Surface Line (here, on the surface) made by the Fox warrior's shoulders. Also the sign over the area where the Fox's ear would normally be is that of a Large gesture sign for a great hole. The Bird's Breast is a large severed Finger that points toward another Finger that points to the Circular hole sign, here. The (yellow) Bird's Beak, its Mouth (a water source) is connected to the, relatively, Large, great,

hole sign. Note the Thumb of the Hand is a Eightward Leaning vertical-place sign. This indicates a waiting place. Awaiting flight. Held as in a bowl, The great one, Here, On The surface, The great hole, The water source. The waiting-place.

Illustration 7: Color Coded Continued

The Helmet, in the overall Form of a Breast of the earth-female a metaphorical hill, the horizontal-place (white), the upper-side (light green).The vertical-place, a place of height (The Nipple of the Breast, the small, green, Vertical Rectangle, a vertical place, on top of the Helmet). The arisings to the sky-arc (blue) in the east and the west. The arising signs that make up the curved the sides of the Tumi Knife (a ray of the Sun) The Curved Edge of the Knife is the sign for the arc of the sky. The (light green) Half-circle below the Nipple is the sign for the upper-half or the upper-world. We then come to a (white) Rectangular horizontal-place sign and positionally below it is a Large (tan) Leg and Foot. A great long journey positionally, on the side of the earth. A breast of the earth, A hill, A horizontal-place, In the upper world, The nipple, a vertical-place, The arisings, east and west, To The arc of the sky.

The great long walk, On the Side

Illustration 8: Color Coded Continued The Above Leg/Foot connects to the warrior's War Club whose Leftward Leaning Stance indicates, stopped. We note that the Head of the Club has the (red) Triangular earth-female sign as its tip followed by a (green) vertical-place whose Stance is Rightward Leaning indicating a waiting-place sign that has its sides angled. Also it is connected to the earth-female sign positioning it as on the side of the earth, Below this is a (brown) horizontal-place sign whose sides are the curved arising signs. The Body of the Club comes to a tapered point that touches the warrior's Shield (the one that protects). The Shield is also the, topographic, sign for a Hill as viewed from above. These two levels of interpretation are derived from the fact that the overall imagery is one of a warrior with his shield but the Shield individually is a Circle, with a light center circle, that serves as the sign for a hill. Thus this combination of a War Club with that of a Planting Stick (the one that penetrates) is, positionally, on the side of the hill. Stopped, On the side, Of The earth-female, A horizontal-place, Of Arisings, Of The one who protects,

On The hillside.

Illustration 9: Color Coded Continued The Hand (a steward of the Sun) of the warrior that holds the War club was composed of a Vertical Half Circle that indicates, the side. The Thumb of the Hand is Rightward Leaning, its Stance indicating waiting and was positioned as, on the side. The (light green) Fingers are horizontal-place signs that were positioned in a vertical series of Four indicating the levels of the four directions or everywhere. There is another (light green) vertical-place sign at the wrist of the Hand. Although a bit vague there are two (brown) signs that position the vertical-place sign between them. The same can be said of the Fingers that make up the levels concept. (Between two Vertical Half Circle signs, between the sides or the center). The Hand is connected to the Elbow of the warrior's right Arm (the one that opens and closes, a sort of hinge). The Imagery of the Elbow is one of a (light Tan) Large Bean like Seed (the great, the relative size of the Seed, one that germinates or sprouts). The dark (brown) sign that is part of the forearm is a Square sign that means a house. It has its sides Curved in the Form of the sign for arising. The dark house of the arisings of the great seed the one that sprouts, the center. The steward of the Sun, On The side, Waiting, The horizontal-places, Everywhere. The center, The great seed, the great one, Who sprouts, His dark house.

In this composition we can see how the concept of the warrior-spirit was combined with an agricultural metaphor so that the War Club was an object that could both penetrate the enemy as well as the earth as a Planting Stick. Deceased warriors were viewed as seeds planted in the earth where they could germinate or be reborn. The Seed itself was enclosed by a Form of a (dark tan) Hand that is holding the Seed and its Finger points towards a small Rectangular horizontal-place sign. The Hand, The Seed, held, here at the horizontal-place of the Fish, the ones that swim. The Fish appear nearly headless. They were composed of signs such as their Tails the (red) Triangular earth-female sign and narrow(dark tan) Fingers pointing at the tip of the earth-female sign. Beneath the Fish are the (blue-green) Saw-toothed signs for water. The (white areas that are between the Saw-toothed sign appear as separate Teeth (the ones that masticate or chew up) and its overall Form may have been intended to reflect the Imagery of a Mouth (a water-source). Below the War Club and also connected to the Fish Imagery is the Large (light blue) Curved (based on the glans penis) sign for a great male-spirit. Within this sign are three (the many) dark Dots (in the darkness). Thus we are informed that the many great male-spirits are swimming in the water source below the earth a place that masticates, chews up, things.

Illustration 10: Color Coded Continued The Steward of the Sun, Held, Here, At The horizontal-place, Below the earth-female, Of The ones that swim,

The great male-spirits, The many, In the water-source, The place, That chews things up.

Illustration 11: Color Coded Continued The Large Knife (yellow) is the sign for a great ray of the Sun. This was based on a metaphor of the Sun baking the earth and causing cracks or cuts on its surface and alluding to a warrior cutting the enemy. The two cords tying it to the Belt are the Double Lined sign for, unseen. The great ray of the Sun, unseen. The great ray is positionally, on the side (of the earth, as earlier defined). We will now look at the Space between the Knife and the Fox Tail. The Form is one of a Whale, the great diver. This was probably an allusion to the spirit of the deceased plunging or diving down into the underworld at death. A great ray of the Sun, a great warrior, Unseen, On The side of the earth, the great diver. The whole issue of the meaning of space in ancient compositions is still up in the air. If one looks carefully at the spaces in this composition one finds most if not all of them have some particular form. Whether such use of space was used in every case is not known because some of the forms may not recognized by a present day researcher. It does seem, for the most part, that space may have been used as an assist in reading the signs as they often seem redundant to the message.

The meaning of Tail of the Fox and its connection to the great Ray of the Sun is not clear. It is possible, by its position behind the Fox-Warrior that it has some meaning that may be analogous to a past tense. The Form probably represents a Large Finger, the great one, (tense) that was (dark Tail) in the darkness, positionally, below. The (white ) area may be a Double Lines that indicated, unseen. Connected to these Double Lines is the (light blue) male-spirit sign that is positionally, on the side (alluding to the earth). It is also just above the Knee which appears to represent something like a hinge that opens and closes. The back of the Knee also makes the gesture sign for an opening. The dark Leg/Foot, the long dark journey, the (green) Vertical-Rectangle Leftward Leaning Stance, stopped at a vertical-place, The front of the Knee has the Triangular earth-female sign on it as well as a Finger pointing here,downward that is positioned, on the side. The great one, The one that was, In The darkness, Below. Unseen, On the side, the male-spirit, Stopped, At A vertical-place, Where, The earth-female, Opens and closes, here, Below, On the side.

Illustration 12: Color Coded Continued Between, in the center, the warrior's legs we find the (light blue) male-spirit sign that also alludes to the gender area of the human Body. The left Leg also refers to a long dark journey and an opening on the side of the earth that opens and closes similar to a door. There is a (green) waiting-place sign just at where the Leg/Foot begins. The male-spirit, At The center, A waiting place, The long, dark, walk, Below it. The Little Eagle Warrior We will now move on to the Hawk Imagery. The Hawk perhaps conceived as a Little Eagle (the great Eagle was the sign for, the great hunter of the daytime, the Sun) a smaller Sun, perhaps used as an analog for Venus, a little sun). It may also reference a human leader who may have been considered a smaller Sun such as in the Inca culture where their leader was called a Sun. The little sun, Venus The Wing, in flight, of the Hawk (a Bird's Hand, a steward of the Sun) was composed of (green) horizontal-place signs. The upper part of the Wing (brown) is a Severed Finger pointing a direction, here, on the surface. The surface Line is the upper edge of the wing and the Finger tip rests upon a

short continuation of that Line. This is connected to the Collar of the Hawk that is a Severed Finger sign that indicates the direction, here at the surface (positionally) just below Straight Line that indicates a surface. The Half-Circle sign for the underside or underworld was based on the curve of the Finger. The steward of the Sun, His flight, A Here on the surface, The Feathers (parts or particles in flight) of the Wing are Vertical Rectangles or vertical-place signs with the lower ones having a round U shaped bottom edge. The compounding the U turning sign with the vertical-place sign created a vertical-turning-place meaning. Positionally the U is at the base of the sign indicating, below. The feathers, the particles in flight, At A vertical turning-place, Below.

Illustration 13: The Hawk: His Face, His Appearance When looking at the area around the Hawk's Head we see that his Arm and Hand holds a Shield (the one that protects or the protector). The Hand itself cannot be seen but its position is alluded to. The Shield, at the gesture sign level, is one of Concentric Circles with a dark center. This is the sign for a hole. The hole is positioned on the Surface Line (green) that has the Stance for waiting. Thus the warrior-priest, the one who protects is waiting in the hole on the surface and it is from here that he ascends (the light blue sign for ascending). Where the ascending sign terminates we see the (yellow) Shepherd's Hook sign for taken upward, compounded with the ascending up and over sign. The Eye refers to the Eye of the Sun (Venus), The Beak (the Mouth of the Bird) is the water-source or water-hole and the Beak is in the Form of the dark Triangular darkness, positional within, the earth-female sign. The one who protectx, Waiting in a hole,

On The surface, The upper part of the Beak is a Rectangular (dark tan) nearly horizontal-place sign with a small Half-Circle as the upper-world sign upon it. This sign is positioned over the area of the Bird's Nose which is the location of dual holes. Horizontal-places, In The upper-world, The holes. The Head Feathers (parts in flight) of the Hawk are bristled up as the sign of fright or being threatened as part of the total Imagery. But at the gesture sign level these are individual arising signs. There are Five such signs and they appear to be shorthand that incorporated linguistic meaning for the four directions plus the middle, in other words the center. Thus, the arisings at the center, The first sign does not appear to be an arising sign as it is a Straight Line connecting to the (red) Triangular earth-female sign meaning, on the side of the earth. At the tip of, the second from right, arising sign there is contact with the (light blue) male-spirit sign. The arising of the male-spirit. On the left, three of the arising signs touch the area of the Leg two of the three signs touch the severed Finger pointing (here) at the edge of (red) earth-female thus, the many arisings on the side, here, at the edge of the earth-female. Next to the front of the Hawk is the Space between, the Fox-Warrior's Leg, and the back of a Lizard. This (blue-gray) Space was made in the Form of a Bird (the one that flies, flight), apparently a Duck by its shape, lifting off from the surface. The Form of the Bird is in contact with both the Legs of the Fox-Warrior and the Hawk. We are by the foregoing informed that the arisings, the journeys , are through flight from the earth's surface. The Fear, Of Arising. The arisings, At The center. The arising Of The male-spirit, The many, On the side, The edge, Of The earth-female. The journey, Of The one that flies, Upwards,

From, The surface.

The Lizard

Illustration 14: The Lizard

In the overall scene of the Fox-warrior section, it is the Lizard that is out ahead the one that leads the way, the scout. The Lizard (the one that climbs upwards to be in or with the Sun). Lizards are cold blooded and climb up on warm rocks to bask in the Sun. They move very slowly when in the dark and cold but move quite fast when warmed by the sun. The back of the Lizard is a surface Line and the Body of the (dark tan) Lizard is Finger pointing a direction, here at the (green) Straight Line that serves as The Tail of the Lizard as well as an extension of the ground or surface line. The one that leads, the scout, Here, On the surface.

Illustration 15: The Lizard, Color Coded Within the Body of the Lizard (Finger Form) are the Double Lines (meaning, unseen) and the Undulating Lines signs mean movement or motion. The Lizard's Eye (the Eye of the Sun, Venus) has a dark Pupil created by a black Circular dot meaning the one, in the darkness. There is a (dark tan) Finger positioned on the side of the (red) Triangular earth-female. The Finger is pointing the direction, here at the Lizard's Mouth (a water source). The Jaw of the Lizard is a (light tan) Arm and Hand equating the Arm (a warrior) and Hand of the Sun (a steward of the Sun ) which compounded mean something similar to a warrior-priest. The Triangle was positioned at the Nose thus alluding to the Nostrils or dual holes). The unseen movement, The Eye of the Sun, Venus On the side, Of The earth-female, Here, At The water source, The warrior, the steward of the Sun. The holes of the earth-female.

The Mouth has a Forked Tongue that at the gesture sign level is the compound sign for a scout the one who opens up the way ahead (as viewed looking toward the Mouth). Note, viewing this sign in the opposite direction we find that it was composed of a surface sign with the V shaped opening sign at its end. An opening in the surface on the side (of the earth). This is an example of a dual sign that has two meanings depending on the direction it is read. The Lizard's Legs and Feet are dark and positionally below the Body (Finger Form). These Limbs are the Arms and Hands of the Lizard and reflect the meaning that the warrior-priests are below in the darkness. The scout, At the opening, On the side. The warriors, the stewards, below, In The darkness.

Illustration 16: Lacewing Illustration 17: The Lacewing The Lacewing The Lacewing is an insect noted for its large Eyes, the prominent green veins in its wing, and long antennae. Perhaps the relation to the composition's context is that the Lacewing is pretty well camouflaged. When on a green plant the insect would be hard to see. It is even difficult to detect it in the composition. It is noteworthy that the Leg of the Hawk Figure also stems from the Eye of the Lacewing telling us that the Eye (Venus) is on a long, dark, journey, below, on the side. Because the Eye (a rough head shaped Rectangle, a horizontal-place sign with a dark dot as a Pupil indicating, the one, in the darkness. Of course, this sign alludes to the position of an eye and thus represents The Eye of the Sun (Venus). The depiction of a dark Leg stemming from the Eye indicates that this is, the place, of the one, in the darkness, the long walk or journey of Venus, below, on the side (of the earth). On both sides of the Leg/Foot there are dark Triangles, meaning, the long dark journey between the sides of the dark earth-female. There is a series of three meaning, the many, (green) Horizontal Rectangles or horizontal-place signs. These place signs are positioned vertically indicating, levels. Just so there would be no doubt about the subject a (light blue) male-spirit sign was placed above the Lacewing's back with a Severed Finger (tan) pointing to the War Club's Crossbar (a vertical-place sign) here, on the side. The one that is hard to see, That feels his way along, On A long, dark, journey, Below, on the side,

The many levels, The male-spirit, Here, On the side.

Illustration 18: The Owl and The Dog

The Owl and the Dog Excluding the (yellow) Great Knife as an identifier of the Ray of the Sun (a Sun-priest) we see the (brown) Imagery of a Dog and an Owl. The Dog was the associative sign for a prophet or prophecy. This was probably based on dogs ability, by barking, to forewarn people of possible approaching danger (such as strangers approaching) before people were aware of it. The one who warns. The one who warns, arising, Because the Dog Imagery is the largest we will start with it. The Stance of the Dog is one of arising from a reclining position. Its (brown) Leg and Paw (Arm and Hand) were placed upon the (brown) Triangular (earth-female) sign that made up the Head of the War-club Imagery. Thus the Arm and Hand of the Sun (the warrior-priest) is climbing to the earth's surface. The Hand has reached the surface line of the Triangular earth sign's surface. The Rump of the Dog (light blue) is in the Form of the male-spirit sign. There are Three (dark) Dots within the male spirit sign that indicates, the many in the darkness. The Dog's short stubby Tail was made in the Form of a Severed Finger pointing to the male-spirit sign. To the left of the Severed Finger is a (tan) very long and horizontally positioned, Leg and Foot that means, the very long horizontal journey across the bottom of the earth. The Stance of the Foot (a walk or journey) is pointing downward. The Two (red) earth-female Triangles has a (blue-green) compounded Large Severed Finger pointing downwards with its jagged edge indicating the familiar but Large Saw-toothed water sign. Thus -- Here, between the sides of the earth-female her great water. There are Two other (brown) Severed Fingers (the Backs or sides of the Fish Forms) pointing the direction here, swimming,

upwards. This completes the downward and upward cycle of the journey through the underworld. The male-spirit, The many, In the darkness, The very long journey, Below the opening, On The surface. At the center, Of the earth, Swimming in her great waters, here, Swimming upwards.

Illustration 19: Color Coded We will now look at the Dog's Head or Face. His Face, his appearance, as a bean like Seed (the Form of the dark patch around the Dog's Eye). The Seed, the one who will sprout. His (dark) Roots, His Feet his dark walk below (positional). Within the dark Seed, positional the Eye, the Eye of the Sun, Venus. From the Nose (the dual orifices,the holes, he ascends and over.. The Dog's Ears alludes to the hole and at that position is a (green) opening positionally, on the side sign. There are also signs on the Dog's forehead that are difficult to resolve. If they were included with the Imagery of the Dog's ear and itsd meaning it may be a bit redundant. His appearance The one, Who will sprout, The dark roots, his dark beginnings. His dark walk below, The Eye of the Sun, Venus Surrounded by darkness, From the holes,

He ascends , Below the hole, The opening, on the side To the left of the two (red) Triangles we see what appears to be the lower portion of a (light tan) female body. There is a severed Finger (the one) stemming from the surface line of the Body that is pointing upwards and was in the Form of the arising sign. The V shaped opening sign is, of course, a metaphorical reference to the female urinary track as a source of water. The concept of a water-source is reinforced by the Two Serpents (the signs for streams of water) their Tongues also making up the V shaped signs for openings. Because these Tongue signs are somewhat curved they actually form the signs for diverging in direction. The meaning was something like, from the streams, the openings, they diverge. The Serpent's Mouths (a Mouth, any mouth indicates a sources of water usually of a subterranean nature. The one, Arising, From the surface, Of The earth-female, The warrior, the steward, On Her side The streams,

Illustration 20: The Owl and the Dog Continued The (blue green) Heads of the Serpents were made in the Form of Water Drops (particles of water). Within the drops two dark Dots were positioned over where the Eyes would normally been depicted.

The Eyes of the Sun, (Venus) within the particles of water. The Ears of the Serpent indicate the position of the orifices of the ear, in other words the holes on the sides (of the earth) as the ears are in the Form of the Triangular earth-female signs). The Serpent Imagery stems from the Circular Shield of the overall scene (of the line drawing) but at this level of translation the Shield is the sign for, a hill. Thus the Serpents, the streams, their Mouths, the water-sources, are spring sites on the hillside. Remember, the Circular hill sign is topographical (as observed from above) so the Serpents/streams emanate from the sides of the hill. The divergence of the water-particles is a reference to evaporation. The particles of water, within them, The ones (the two), In the darkness. From The water sources, The arise, diverge.

We are now back at the Owl Imagery so we find ourselves repeating a bit. The Owl is of course, a Bird and any Bird as a sign refers to flight as in sign language bird and flight are the same sign. But we also know that this specific Bird was also the association for a messenger from the underworld or a messenger from spirits of the dead. Burrowing Owls made a perfect metaphor for the one that walks up out of the earth or underworld and flies away. The Messenger, From The underworld, His flight. Just above the left Serpent's Tongue we note a tiny (white) Circle and Triangle. Location, the one, positionally, on the surface of the earth-female. The (brown) Tail of the Owl is a large vertical-place sign. Its Stance is Right Leaning which indicates, waiting or awaiting. The sides of the Rectangular Tail are in the form of the curved arising sign. The position of the Tail may also allude to the anus as a hole. The place of the hole. Thus, the location, the one, waiting on the earth's surface. His location, the one, On The surface of the earth-female, The dark, Vertical, The Awaiting, Arising-place,

Illustration 21: The Owl The Owl's Wing is a bit ambiguous but its Form shows up in many Moche compositions and not always as the wing of an Owl. It is quite common for this same Form to be used as the Wing of a Crow or Raven. The Wing seems to be a compound of the Triangular earth-female sign and the U shaped sign for turning. The (brown) Wing Tip has the Stance of pointing the direction, below. turning, female. The Wing (probably also a reference to flight of some type) was also conceived as the Hand (steward of the Sun) of the Bird. Below, Turning female, The flight, Of The steward of the Sun. The Breast of the Owl seems to be the Half Circle sign for, on the side (positional) compounded also with the U shaped sign for, turning. Turning on the side (of the earth).Within it, there are several (blue-green) but rather ambiguous signs that could be construed as the signs for trail or paths of moisture. Turning, On The side, Within, The pathways, Of Moisture. The Leg and Claws of the Bird represent an Arm (warrior) and Hand (steward or priest). The (dark tan) Severed Finger that stems from the (light tan) female genital area of the earth-female points the direction above and by Stance, awaiting. Within the Elbow (a V shaped sign for an opening) of the Bird Leg is a Space that was made in the Form of a (blue) Sitting Bird and its overall stance is Rightward Leaning together indicating, awaiting-flight. The warrior, the steward, Awaiting,

His dark arising, Above It is interesting that the Breast of the Owl also Forms the Body for a (light blue) Two Headed Bird or the two flights. The Bird's (yellow)Beaks (their Mouths or the water-sources) were positioned facing the Left (east) and the Right (west) as is determined in gesture signing. Within the Bird's Head-ings are the Eyes, the Eyes of the Sun or Venus. Thus the subject is the flights of Venus in the east and west. The two flights, From The water-sources, In The east and west, Of The eyes of the Sun, Venus.

Illustration 1: Original Hummingbird The Hummingbird

Illustration 2: Hummingbird Color Coded

We know from earlier papers that the Hummingbird was one of several metaphors used for Venus. This was based on the Hummingbird's mating display where the male hummingbird flies in a large U shaped flight that is reminiscent of the path of Venus below the earth and in the sky. Arising in the east and then disappearing below the earth before arising once again in the West. The real Hummingbird does this in a breathtakingly fast flight compared to the Venus cycle. The Maya called Venus the Hummingbird on the Left which refers to the fact that gesture signing equates the left hand side with the east and the right hand side with the west. Hummingbird on the Left was today's Morning Star. The Hummingbird in this composition like any other Bird Imagery represents flight. We see that the Form of the Bird is in the shape of the sign for arising. The Wing is connected to the Shield which at

this, non imagery, level is the sign for a hill. The Wing alludes to the position of the Arm (a warrior) and Hand (a steward of the Sun) of the Body and a large (dark tan) severed Finger (a great one) points to the Hillside, here. Below the severed Finger or the leading edge of the Wing are a number of (green) Vertical Rectangles that are the signs for, vertical-places, places that have height and depth. These signs are separated by (yellow) Double Lines that indicate, unseen. The uppermost row of place signs holds a count of eight. A count of any similar thing could also provide a linguistic association. In this case the Number Eight was derived from the eight lined Asterisk shaped sign for a non gendered spirit. A combination of place signs and a number would provide the meaning, spirit-places. The next, lower, level of place signs is between the (yellow) Double Lines which means the places are hidden or unseen. There are only four complete vertical-place signs here and the remaining two signs are the rounded male-spirit Forms that were derived from the shape of the glans penis. The Number Four bears the association of the four directions meaning, in all four directions or everywhere. The phrase would become, the male-spirit places, everywhere. The final and bottom line of place signs are the (light blue) Curved signs that represent male-spirits. The count of these signs is Three which has the association attached to it of many. This is similar to how one would say, in English, that two is a couple and three means a few. The One, Arising, In Flight, Here, At The hillside, The waiting-places, the levels, The male-spirit places, The many, Everywhere,

Illustration 22: Color Coded Continued Hummingbird (Venus) arises by the hillside (Stance). At the top of the Tail is a (dark tan) severed Finger pointing a direction, here which touches the Curved Line that makes up the arising sign. The Finger is also positioned as on the surface of the vertical-place signs. The Tail has Three (yellow)

the many, horizontal-place signs that are positioned as levels. They divide the Four directions, everywhere (green) vertical-place signs also into levels. The lowest level seems to have the Saw-toothed water sign compounded with the vertical-place signs, positioned, below. Places of water, below. Hummingbird, Venus arises By The hillside, Here, The many levels, Everwhere, Below, In The vertical-p;aces, Of Water, Below. The Body of the Bird has two columns of vague signs the count of each which is Six. (the meaning of the number six is not known but may equate to the four directions plus above and below). The Space between the signs Forms a column that would be, between the sides, the middle of the Body, the center. The (orange) Curved Band or Collar of the Bird is the familiar sign for, held as in a bowl. Just above this is the hole sign that alludes to the position of the Eye (the one that sees) and is also the Eye of the greater Bird Imagery. The dark area around the Eye was made in the Form of a U. This compound indicated, turning in the darkness. The Nasal orifice (a hole) is a tiny (white) Right Leaning waiting-place sign. The Beak of the Bird as a Mouth ( a long Rightward Leaning Line) indicates, waiting at the water-source. The six, (?) Between the side, the center, Held as in a bowl, The hole, The Eye, the eye of the Sun, Turning in the darkness, the horizontal-place, Waiting, At The water-source.

Illustration 23: Color Coded Continued We now will look at the Human Arm and Legs of the Bird. The Human Limbs tell us that the Hummingbird is or, rather, was a human warrior. The Leg/Foot was positioned as, on the side, of the Body which is also the Curved Line that creates the arising sign. The (white) sign is a place sign that forms an Rightward Leaning angle (a waiting-place). Next we find the (red) Triangular earth-female sign with a white) severed Finger pointing, here, on the side. The Triangle was placed on the Knee which alludes to something that is hinged like a door that opens and closes. Below, positional, there is a (green) horizontal-place sign followed by a (dark tan) severed Finger pointing, here, on the side. Below, the Leg (a long) and the Foot, (a walk or journey). Arising, On the side, A waiting-place, On the side Of the earth-female, A horizontal-place, Here, on the side, That opens and closes. Below, A horizontal-place, Here, On the side, Below it, The long journey, In the darkness.

Illustration 24: Color Coded Continued Finally, we come to the Arm, the warrior, The Shield, the protector, the (white) horizontal-place, the dark Square, the house of darkness. Then a (white) Rectangle, a vertical-place, the Circle with a dark center, the hole. The hole sign also alludes to the position of the Hand (the steward of the Sun). Behind the Shield are Two severed Fingers. These Fingers are merged together and represent, the two together as one, in union. This is mostly likely a reference to the two appearances of the Hummingbird, Venus in the east and west but acknowledging that Venus is a single entity. This sign was positioned as on the surface of the (brown) earth-female sign made by the tip of the War Club below it. The Body of of the War Club is a Line that is offset as it passes behind the Shield/Hole Imagery. On the upper side of the Shield/Hole sign the Line is Rightward leaning, the Stance for, waiting, positionally, on the side. The Head of the War Club was composed of the (red) Triangular earth-female sign with a (green) Leftward Leaning Stance indicating, stopped. Stopped on the surface of the earth-female. Positioned on the side of the hole sign. The warrior, the protector, The horizontal-place, The house of darkness, A vertical-place, The Hole Of The Steward of the Sun. The two, united as one, On the surface, Of The earth-female, Waiting, On her side.

Stopped, On the side, Of The earth-female, On the side, Of The hole. In the larger, overall, scene of the Arriving Warrior-spirits one can easily assume that the club like objects in their hands are war clubs. This would seem to be true as far as setting the theme for a fight or struggle is concerned. But we can see, from the above, there was another level where the message was cosmological and metaphorical. The message content tells us that the warrior is a seed on his way toward germination or sprouting like a plant a metaphorical form of rebirth or resurrection. The war club, is this context, is an implement for penetrating the earth -- a planting stick. Most farmers were probably also warriors, or at least needed to defend themselves, and when needed their planting sticks may also have been used for defense if they came under attack while working their fields. In any event is is clear that the metaphors were related to the afterlife of warriors. This composition is quite complicated and it must be remembered that we are working from a photograph obtained from a roll-out. While the roll-out is an excellent device for gaining an overview of the scene it is separated from the ceramic vessel that it was painted upon. Therefore we have lost some information as related to the vessel shape and how the composition was organized in relation to the vessel. Also some details are not entirely clear in the photograph which is another disadvantage when translating the signs. Most likely there are some mis-perceptions in regard to the signs and the meaning of the Imagery and their associations. Still, the general meaning of the composition is fairly clear and it is far better to base our interpretation of the compositions on signs that have some historical documentation than on nothing at all. Otherwise we are left to guessing about images of gods and anthropomorphic creatures, or trying to match the imagery with various verbal traditions, myths, and legends, Such stories passed down through the ages may, as the only source of knowledge, press researchers into forcing the only available mythology onto many ancient compositions. In this section of the roll-out we notice that the figures all seem to revolve around the character of the warrior and the warrior cosmology. The Owl: The Messenger from the underworld The Dog: The one who warns of danger The Fox-Warrior: The Wondrous-warrior The Little Eagle: The little Sun The Lacewing: The One that is hard to see The Lizard: The One that climbs upward, the one that leads the way The Hummingbird: The one that flies in a U shaped pattern, Venus

Illustration 25: Left Side of the Roll-out Even when we look at the initial figures in the scene we read: The Eagle-warrior: The Warrior of the Daytime Sun The Mouse: The Little one The Fox: The wonder The Cacti:The Pain or Difficulty, stopped In the upper right of the scene. The Dog Warrior: The one who warns (a prophet), The sprouting The Twins Warrior: The one with two heads or faces. The twins are Siamese twins sharing one Body and this refer back to Venus. There does seem to be a tend that the Warrior Imagery is more related to cosmological concepts depicted on the ceramic vessel (the earth-female). The scene's meaning is still somewhat of a mystery but we seem to be getting closer to understanding its meaning.