Artifact Facts

AN artifact by accident, design,
Time's spared though so few items grace fate's trace,
Identified with culture, usage, race,
Questions answers, knowledge may refine.
Unsuspected causal links some mine,
In others tantalizing glimpse of space
That for a passing phase held pride of place
In heart or mind before Time signed end line.
Each object linking to submergent past
Seems dream incarnate, lasts while most fail fast.

Author notes

Acrostic Antiquities

pic 1 Thomas Aleto
http://flickr.com/photos/ilhuicamina/755130355/

Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina, the 5th Aztec emperor, is shown on this cuauxicalli (a vessel used to hold the hearts of sacrificial victims) dressed as Huitzilopochtli and conquering the lord of another town

This is a huge stone that is about 7 feet across and about 2 feet tall. The hole in the middle to hold the hearts was about 6 inches deep and about 20 inches across. It held multiple hearts. You can a carving of the tecpatl - sacrificial flint knife - over the feathers in the headdress. The hummingbird on the headress is a symbol for the Aztec god of war - Huitzilopochtli.

pic 2 Katka Samkova
http://flickr.com/photos/katkasamkova/2052736035/

Background Katka Samkova
Inca Mayan art : Metropolitan Museum of Art
http://flickr.com/photos/katkasamkova/1878341418/

pic 3 God Cup dating from around 500 B.C.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4016077.ece

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Stardust-luvr
August 8, 2007
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I love the take on the prompt and the idea of an acrostic at the same time very well done xx
In Too Deep1
August 8, 2007
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Beautifully done! Emotionally gripping
Good luck in the comp and thanks for entering