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of a fire-snake in high relief illustrated on Pl. V, 2, being an especially fine specimen from a technical point of view.
To speak generally, Aztec sculpture often shows a slight stiffness in style, due in part to its conventional
Fig. 20.—Stone axe-blades.
| 1. | Etla, Oaxaca. |
| 2, 3, 6. | Valley of Mexico. |
| 4, 5, 7, 8. | Michoacan (Tarascan.) |
| (British Museum) | |
nature, but many specimens exist which exhibit considerable freedom of treatment, notably the figure of Xochipilli on Pl. V, I (of which the characteristic crest rising from the head-dress is unfortunately missing), and the magnificent rattlesnake on Pl. XI, A. Characteristic of the stone art of Tulan are caryatid figures (similar to Fig. 84, p. 348) and serpent columns, both
