The photo here displays what looks like natives on the left making an offering to the Spaniards on the right. The woman in the middle of this photo would probably be Maintzin. This is probable because of the role that women played in Ancient Mesoamerican society, which would not be in an open area in this image. Her role as a translator helps make a case that she would be in the middle of this image. The men on the right in this photo are most likely Spaniards because on horseback. The natives in the photo look as if they are making an offering to the Spaniards as one of them is holding a bird and looks as if he is offering it to them. There is another person behind that native looks to be holding a bowl with something in it, and another native with an bird impaled on a spear. What stands out in the photo is the one tree to the left of Malintzin since it stands by itself almost out of place with nothing else in the background. I think that Townsend would agree with the accuracy of this photo. Townsend mentions that as Spaniards traveled through the area they sought precious metal and food, one which is present in this photo.
MMurphyu's discription of this photo seems correct, but I feel like she fails to elaborate more on Maintzin which seems to be the indian woman in the middle between the indians and the Spaniards. For one, she is in the middle but is mostly on the side of the Spaniards which seems to show that she is with them and helping them out. Second, she is standing right by one Spaniard which would probably be Cortez since in almost of the pictures of Malintzin she is always next to Cortez. Last, she is pointing at the Spaniards or at Cortez like she is translating or explaining to the Indians something.
ReplyDeleteSince Matlinzin is pointing at the Spaniards like she is explaining to the indians, it makes me think what time of Matlinzin life this picture is representing. It could be the first meeting of the Idians and the Spaniards with Matlinzin in the middle. After all, the indians in the picture are showing some offerings of food to the spaniards. Perhaps is an peace offering so the fighting would strop. The picture could also be when the Indians offered Matlinzin to the Spaniards along with food. Over all, mmurphyu's description of the picture was good, but just needed to concentrate more on Mitlinzin.