The Olmecs (/ ˈ ɒ l m ɛ k s, ˈ oʊ l-/) or Olmec were an early known major Mesoamerican civilization, flourishing in the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco from roughly 1200 to 400 BCE during Mesoamerica's formative period.

Mar 7, 2025 · Olmec, the first elaborate pre-Columbian civilization of Mesoamerica (c. 1200–400 BCE) and one that is thought to have set many of the fundamental patterns evinced by later American Indian cultures of Mexico and Central America, notably the Maya and the Aztec.

Apr 4, 2018 · What is the Olmec civilization known for? The Olmec civilization is known for being the first great Mesoamerican culture. It is famous for its monumental sacred complexes, massive stone head sculptures, ball games, the drinking of chocolate, and animal gods. What are five facts about the Olmec civilization?

American empire before 1500. The Olmec civilization started in 1200 BC along the Gulf of Mexico. The Olmec developed a written language using hieroglyphics and apparently its unreadable today. They invented intensive agriculture, the number system, and the calendar.

Dec 13, 2022 · Ok, we’ve got Nahui Ollin in the center, representing the fifth universe, and.. a Quetzalcoatl ouroboros? The colors reference the current flag of Mexico, but what’s the significance of the stars? I’m a little confused by the symbolism here, but otherwise neat!

Mar 17, 2021 · This study of Olmec iconography includes a dictionary of Olmec motifs and symbols, a section devoted exclusively to the identification of ten gods from the Olmec pantheon, and brief speculative statements on the meaning of Olmec mythology.

Feb 27, 2024 · In the case of the Olmec, archaeologists think artifacts found primarily on the northern half of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mesoamerica from 1200–500 B.C.E. timeframe represent the Olmec society. The name Olmec was actually invented by scholars.

Feb 17, 2025 · The Olmec civilization, often regarded as Mesoamerica’s “mother culture,” laid the foundations for many aspects of later societies such as the Maya and Aztecs. Flourishing from approximately 1200 BCE to 400 BCE in what is now southern Mexico, the Olmecs made significant contributions in art, religio

From the earliest discoveries of the huge carved-stone 'African' heads, to the extraordinary similarity to the Chinese Shang culture in art and text, the Olmecs appear to have been influenced by several racial types, making them possibly one of …

Olmec ōlˈmĕk [key], term denoting the culture of ancient Mexican natives inhabiting the tropical coastal plain of the contemporary states of Veracruz and Tabasco, between 1300 and 400 b.c.