IZP5

            This baseline pair places the centerline passing just across the horizontal top edge of the motif in the center of the tree trunk. This motif’s shape suggests two other possible centerlines and baseline pairs that along with the prominent horizontal features at the bottom that qualify as possible baselines likely encode additional narratives. The lower baseline here is where three of the figures are seated with the upper baseline aligned to the ‘T’ like glyph at the top. The three slanted motifs at the left suggest earth’s axial tilt. The first few alignments use the 75/25 degree ray projected down from above. The rest of the alignments are done aligning the y-axis as shown to the vertical elements at the top above the tree’s branches. The somewhat horizontal feature these vertical elements seem to hang from can also be paired with this same baseline resulting in a centerline aligned to the middle notch of the motif. Both baseline pairs project very similar alignments of the hands, fingers, eyes, and conical hat of the figures at the bottom left. Though there is little doubt that the design platform being explored here was used, exactly how and what was being encoded by either baseline pair may vary to some degree the overall narrative remains the same and is centered around where the bearded man with the conical hat came from and how he managed to arrive at Izapa. (Image Source; see Art Motifs Image Sources Fig.36)