Sunday, October 9, 2011

RIB AMBIGUITY

I'm trying to identify all the possible rib configurations that can be represented in an engraving of a cactus consisting of five parallel lines and, more importantly, which is the likely the "correct" interpretation. Many people (Davis, Sharon, Trout et al.) have suggested that the beast on the left holds a four-ribbed cactus yet I feel that may be an incorrect interpretation. The beast only has one eye, but I do not think many would characterize it as a one-eyed beast. The hair-snakes also have one eye, but I do not think many would characterize them as one eyed snakes, nor do I think anyone would suggest the beast has some kind of ankle disorder causing its feet to point sideways. Obviously some tricks of perspective are at play, some parts of the body (the torso) are displayed in a squashed omni-perspective, other seem to take on a more conventional perspective were opposing sides are implied, if the cactus has another side then it is (probably) not a four ribbed cactus. I modified the second two engravings to show the two "correct" way to draw a four ribbed cactus in three dimensional space.

The first Chavin beast holds a cactus with two, three, four, five, six, eight or ten ribs.
The second Chavin beast holds a cactus with three, four, or six ribs.
The third Chavin beast holds a cactus with two, three, or four ribs.

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