Tlalpanhuehuetl o Tambor vertical

A wood vertical drum known as tlalpanhuehuetl (“Earth drum”) because they were placed directly on the floor. The upper part was covered with animal skin and played with palms and fingers of the hands. This splendid copy was carved into a trunk of an ahuehuete with a scene of an eagle and a vulture confronting with their wings spread. From their beaks sprouts the glyph of war (atl tlachinolli) which consists of a stream of water that is intertwined with one of fire. In this case, the stream of water springs from the eagle’s beak and is represented as painted blue waves, finished with shells and beads; the one representing fire comes out of the vulture beak in a band way which at the end has a design of flames in the form of stylized butterfly. Two rolled bands delimit this scene. Flames of fire and the image of the sun as a flower surrounded by feathers is represented in the merlon stands. It was painted in bright colors, as the remains of blue, ocher, red and black pigments show.The iconography in this drum suggests that it was used by warriors during in their ceremonies.Arqlga. Bertina Olmedo Vera