地球怪物（特拉特库特利） - 美国大都会艺术博物馆展品查阅

品名（中）	地球怪物（特拉特库特利）
品名（英）	Earth Monster (Tlaltecuhtli)
入馆年号	1900年，00.5.36
策展部门	迈克尔·洛克菲勒之翼（The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing）
创作者
创作年份	公元 1400 - 公元 1550
创作地区	墨西哥（Mexico）
分类	石雕（Stone-Sculpture）
尺寸	高 20 英寸 × 宽 16 1/2 英寸 × 深 5 英寸 (50.8 × 41.9 × 12.7 厘米)
介绍（中）	许多古代美国人认为地球是漂浮在海上的巨型鳄鱼、乌龟或蟾蜍般的怪物。这些生物粗糙、有鳞的皮肤呈现出几何图案，被比作犁沟、不平的地表和耕地的规则图案。由于这三种动物能够在陆地和水下移动，它们都是地球和水的隐喻。它们也有生育的含义在艺术中，土怪经常被描绘成一个张开双臂和双腿的拟人化的人。它的分娩姿势是阿兹特克妇女所采取的，这是对生育概念的参考。图中人物的手和脚似乎被抓了起来。它的超大头部向后上仰，有一双球状的眼睛和一张张开的舌头。牙齿之间夹着一把祭祀刀。牺牲的受害者被地球怪物吞噬。太阳也被认为在黄昏时被它张开的嘴吞噬了。地球怪物躯干上常见的图案是阿兹特克人对玉石和其他珍贵绿色石头的象征。它在这里显示为一个带有吊坠元素的圆圈。隐喻性地，这个主题意味着"珍贵"，并被用作水的象征。阿兹特克重要雕塑的下面经常雕刻着地球怪物的画像。
介绍（英）	Many ancient American peoples conceived the earth to be a giant crocodile, turtle, or toadlike monster floating on the sea. The rough, scaly skins of these creatures displaying geometric designs was likened to the furrowed, uneven surface of the earth and the regular patterns of tilled fields. Because of their capability of moving on land and under water, all three animals were metaphors for both earth and water. They also had fertility connotations. In art, the earth monster is often depicted as an anthropomorphic being with splayed arms and legs. Its posture of parturition was that assumed by Aztec women, a reference to the concept of fertility. Here the figure's hands and feet appear to be clawed. Its oversized head, shown flung back and up, has bulbous eyes and a wide-open mouth with a split tongue. A sacrificial knife is held between the teeth. Sacrificial victims were devoured by the earth monster. The sun too was believed to be swallowed by its gaping jaws at dusk. A common motif found on the torso of earth monsters is the Aztec symbol for jade and other prized green stones. It is shown here as a circle with pendant element. Metaphorically the motif meant "preciousness" and was used as a symbol for water. Earth monster depictions are often carved on the underside of important Aztec sculptures.