Mesoamerican Sculpture : The Deer of Our Existence

The Deer of Our Existence statue

based on the Calendar figures from Códice Vaticano B : 

I have a split version that gets printed on two plates but the Prusa site is getting stuck downloading them. So for now download and import the 3mf and split it if you want to save time and skip the support material.  This is a statue based on a figure found in Mesoamerican Calendars. 

The Deer in the Calendar

A key aspect of the deer's importance is its place in the sacred 260-day calendar, the tonalpohualli.

Day Sign Mazatl: The seventh of the twenty day signs is Mazatl, the Nahuatl word for deer. Each day sign carried specific auguries and was associated with a patron deity.

Patron Deity: The day Mazatl is governed by Tlaloc, the powerful god of rain, water, and agricultural fertility. This association underscores the deer's connection to sustenance and the life-giving forces of nature. Being born on this day was thought to impart the characteristics of the deer—alertness, grace, and a connection to the wilderness.

Symbolism and Ritual Significance

The imagery within the Codex Vaticanus B and its sister manuscript, the Codex Borgia, goes far beyond the calendar, portraying the deer in various symbolic contexts.

Sustenance and "Our Flesh": The deer was a primary source of protein for many Mesoamerican peoples. It provided not just meat (our flesh) for survival, but also hides for clothing and ritual bundles, and antlers for tools. The hunt was a sacred activity, and the deer was seen as a divine gift. This direct link to daily survival is a likely origin for a concept like "The Deer of Our Existence."

Wounded Deer Imagery: A recurring and powerful image in the codices is that of a deer being pierced by a spear or an arrow. This "wounded deer" can represent several ideas:

Sacrifice: The act of hunting and killing the deer was a form of sacrifice, providing life for the community.

Drought and Prayer for Rain: As an animal of the drylands, a wounded deer could symbolize drought and the suffering of the earth. In this context, it represents a plea to Tlaloc for rain and renewal.

Human Vulnerability: The deer also symbolizes the human spirit—vulnerable, hunted, and subject to the forces of fate and the divine.

Mythological Importance: The deer is a prominent figure in creation myths and legends. In some stories, the deer is associated with the sun, the stars, and the hunt. The Mixtec hero, Lord 8 Deer "Jaguar Claw," whose exploits are detailed in several codices, is a testament to the animal's noble and powerful associations.