The Mesoamerican Venus Symbol In Venezuelan Rock Art

Domingo Sanchez P.
 

ABSTRACT

This study supports the hypothesis that several rock paintings and petroglyphs found in Venezuela have a design which corresponds to symbols attributed to Venus in Mesoamerica and more specifically in the Maya area.

Making such a comparison was stimulated by the work of the recognized Venezuelan anthropologist Miguel Acosta Saignes (1961) who wrote about the existence of Mesoamerican cultural elements in the Orinoco region. In any case, we regard our study as a hypothesis that may be extended to other areas like Colombia, Panama, Brazil, Peru, the Guiana's or the Antilles in the Caribbean. Within this frame, my paper is concerned with the presentation of a hypothesis which is supported by a number of arguments: the existence of equivalent designs of Venus symbols in Mesoamerica. The analysis was completed with the aid of linguistic elements of the ethnic groups living in Venezuela, who know Venus as a star and have particular designations for it. We have also considered archaeological and anthropological references, and also draw attention upon native mythologies. In my opinion, this investigation supports a hypothesis of equivalence for designs of symbols for Venus in Mesoamerica.