Indians of Central America -- Nicaragua -- Antiquities; Nicaragua -- Antiquities
Male, sitting figure, with its head bent forward, supporting the
gigantic head of a crocodile. The back side being only plane-cut, it
has probably stood against a wall; but as it wanted a tenon, it did
not seem to have supported the roof. In posture it much resembled K
and M, but it was worked without the elegance that distinguished K. It
is highly probable that the head of the animal represented that of a
crocodile, although it was executed, in a rough manner, the style being
altogether peculiar to this statue; the head was square-cut and the
outlines not at all rounded. The characteristic knob or protuberance
on the snout of the crocodile was boldly molded, but square. The eyes
were marked by triangular cavities, the teeth pyramidal, sharp-pointed.
The ears were the only portions of the head exhibiting curved outlines;
their form was almost human. The human figure, as has been said before,
was of far coarser workmanship than the statue K. The face was well
preserved, the forehead high, the nose small, the mouth half-opened,
the ears large and hanging, resembling those of a dog. The neck was
very long and thick. The muscles of the breast were vigorous. The arms
were fleshy and vigorous, straight, stretched down, leaning with the
palms against the upper surface of the block, on which the figure was
seated. The thick fingers were extended straight down. The legs were
rather thick; the feet, which were short and clumsy, with slightly
indicated toes, rested on a little foot-stool. The figure, sitting with
the hands pressed against the stone block, exhibited a posture quite
able to support a very heavy weight. The block that served as a seat,
had the form of a truncated pyramid. The statue was overthrown; it was
lying pretty close to the mound 2, between it and mound 1. The height
of the statue from the highest point of the head of the crocodile to
the upper edge of the pedestal was 147 cm. The length of the face of
the human figure was 19 cm. The length of the head of the crocodile was
91 cm., its height 47 cm.
M
Pl. 15.
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