Serpent

About Serpent Designs

The "serpent" design is most likely an evolution from the serpent designs of central and western Mexico that arrived in the vicinity of Paquimé between about 1150 and 1450 CE. From Paquimé those designs made their way north, eventually perhaps becoming the avanyu designs of some Northern Tewa pueblos. The avanyu, though, has taken on a different meaning in the centuries since the serpent design may have first reached the Four Corners area.

The Paquimé serpent designs also have some of the characteristics of treatment by Mimbres-trained artists, and likely had deeper spiritual meanings attached. Many of the serpent designs coming out of Mata Ortiz now are less spiritual and more contemporary, with serpent designs more clearly involved.

The avanyu is seen as the Keeper of springs and Guardian of flowing water. In the desert Southwest, when it rains it often just pours, creating situations for fast flooding and arroyo cutting. That manifestation of water is also seen as the avanyu making its destructive way through the village...

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