The Nazca Monkey Desert Figure

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The Nazca Monkey Figure

Revisited

Clifford C. Richey

August 2011


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It is unlikely that all the principles used in this ancient composition have been determined but

perhaps enough to be able to obtain the general idea. For the present it appears that the following

rules were used in organizing and composing the composition.

Layered Organization. Gesture signs were depicted by motions made in the air and relied on the

reader's memory to retain the message from one sign to the other. The same system could not have

been used in written sign language because writing signs on top of one another would have resultedin a hopeless tangle of signs. Thus signs were separated by spatial organization, such as the

grouping of Forms into patterns, or discrete Images. Form, Imagery, and Gesture elements are all

considered signs. Generally they appear to have been read from the largest sign to the smaller.

The Initial or Total Form (shape). This could be considered the title or subject of the composition.

It has not yet been determined how one should determine Total Form. At times it seems that one

should just visually trace the outline to gain the Form. At other times this seems to result in an

incoherent shape so perhaps it was intended that one only look at the overall Form and not include

every detail such as minor indentations.

Sub Forms . Found within other Forms or Forms with a comparative reduction in size.

Imagery. Usually imagery was composed of elementary gesture signs that held an

associational (the essence of the depicted subject) value. Such imagery was often the

equivalent of a phrase in English.

Basic Gesture Signs. Literally hundreds of such signs have been historically documented, in texts

on sign language, and can used to assist in learning the meaning of the associational imagery

through context. These signs were drawn leaving out the depiction of the hands. The resultant lines

and the form they took was what was considered important. For example, a large X shaped signwas based on the gesture of two arms crossing each others in the act of a trade. This sign was also

used for exchange, and transformation depending on its context.

Position. The signs are positionally sensitive. Relative direction as well as unwritten signs

can be determined by their position. For example, the position of a sign on a face or body

can represent that part without it needing to be shown. The non depicted part is incorporated into

the message along with the sign that occupies the position. This could result in some bizarre

forms and imagery. A Leg and Foot might appear where an Arm and Hard would be

expected. Because the Leg and Foot hold the meaning of a long journey and the Arm and Hand

hold the meaning ofa warriorand stewardor priest the resultant message would be, the long journey of the warrior priest.

Compounding of Signs. Form, Imagery, and Gesture signs were all compounded. This often

resulted in odd appearing Forms such as a Serpent's Body with the Head of a Fox, etc. Compounded

Gesture signs are sometimes difficult to recognize because of their simplicity or lack of Imagery.

Stance. Examples would be of a Figure sitting meaning, waiting. A Figure on Bended Knee

might represent one arising etc. Stance might also include such things as Facial Expression.

Written sign language was a skeletal language and therefore could be used by people speaking avariety of different languages with different grammars. The eloquence of the translation was

dependent on the reader and the manner in which the signs were paraphrased.


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The original paper on the Nazca Monkey Figure was written more than a decade ago. Much has

been learned since that time which includes a better appreciation of the use of compounded Form,

and the highly positional nature of the signs as they related to one another.

Most animal Imagery found in Native American compositions are associative and related to the

spirit or essence of that animal. The essence of a Dog is its ability to alert people to events or

dangers yet unseen. Due to its acute hearing a dog can alert people that someone or some possible

danger is approaching. It appears that the Form and Imagery of the Dog was used to encompass the

idea of a prediction, or a prophecy. Other synonyms are: augury, forecast, foretelling, soothsaying,

etc., The Stance of the Dog's Head is facing to the Left or Eastin accordance with the principles ofNative American gesture signing whereby it was assumed that the reader was facing South making

his Left Hand indicate the East and his Right Hand the West. Of course the reader did not not

literally have to take that position.

Compounded with the profile Form of the Dog's Head is a Rectangularplace sign, The Stance of

theplace sign is Rightward Leaning indicating, waiting. This Stance was based on the gesture sign

which, in written form, is a simple vertical line leaning to the right.

The Dog, The Prophet

Looks

East ward,

The waiting place.

The Monkey Imagery that is within the Dog/Prophet Form, as we shall shortly learn, is the Image

associated with the spiritor essence of a storm. It seems likely that the prophet is looking eastward

for the appearance of a storm. But was it a normal weather pattern for storms to arrive from the

east? According to Dr. Marcus Reindel1 in discussing possible damage to the desert figures states,,

...in one part of the Nasca Pampa, where dry valleys reach far back into the mountains to the east,

rainfalls in the highlands during irregular precipitation patterns like the so called Ni a may

1 http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episode/nasca lines the buried secrets 4477/Overview14#tab qa dr

markus reindel#ixzz1UubqkYLx

Illustration 1: Total Form: The Prophet

Looks Eastward, The Waiting Place
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episode/nasca-lines-the-buried-secrets-4477/Overview14#tab-qa-dr-markus-reindel%23ixzz1UubqkYLxhttp://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episode/nasca-lines-the-buried-secrets-4477/Overview14#tab-qa-dr-markus-reindel%23ixzz1UubqkYLxhttp://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episode/nasca-lines-the-buried-secrets-4477/Overview14#tab-qa-dr-markus-reindel%23ixzz1UubqkYLxhttp://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/episode/nasca-lines-the-buried-secrets-4477/Overview14#tab-qa-dr-markus-reindel%23ixzz1UubqkYLx


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produce water flows which reach the pampas and may damage the geoglyphs. Thus it would seem

reasonable for the Prophet to be looking to the highlands east of the Monkey Figure for signs of a

storm.

Illustration 2 provides us with an overlay of text related to the signs found in the Monkey Figure. Inaccordance with the principles of written sign language we tend to read from the larger Forms and

Imagery to the smaller ones. This is reflected in the font size of the overlay. Because the message of

the glyph is non linear we can start our reading anywhere and still, in the end, understand its

message. We note that what was essentially the Form of a waiting place sign within the Imagery

level provides additional information as the upper left corner of the rectangle forms the Triangular,

earth female sign. Further, the (blue) Lines within the Triangle is the sign for a flow orflowing

which, in this case, is water. This part of the message may well have been a metaphorical allusion to

the menses of the earth female . In any event, the result of any storm might well result in water

flowing down the hillside upon which this glyph was created. Photographs show an area of erosion

or a dry wash near the Monkey's Hands.

We will now move on to explanations of some of the details found in the glyph.

Illustration 2: Text Overlay


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The essence of a Monkey is that it lives in the trees, a space between the earth's surface and the sky.

When hunted bands of monkeys whether out of excitement or defense urinate on the hunters below

giving the effect of a rainstorm. For this reason it is thought that the Monkey Imagery represented a

storm. We will see that, within the context of the composition, this attribution seems to fit in quite

well. The antics of bands of monkeys jumping from branch to branch in the jungle canopy could

well have been, metaphorically, associated with the movements of a storm.

This desert figure was drawn with one single line but, in effect, that made the Monkey Imagery

Double Lined, indicating it was invisible or unseen. Further the Monkey has no Face and as we have

see in past papers the Face indicated, he appears, or his appearance. Thus by implication the Storm

has not yet appeared.

Illustration 3: Areas Discussed as Numbered

Illustration 4: The Monkey's Compound Forms


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The Over all Form of the Monkey's Tail (blue green) appears to be that of a Serpent. The Serpent,

perhaps by association with a river, indicates a stream of water. The Crook (tan) sign in the center

of the Swirl means, take, or bring. The Concentric Swirls indicate, levels of height. The Swirl

indicates a number (three, shorthand for many). Many levels or high above. The direction of the

swirls are downward. The Head ( ing) of the Serpent appears to be that of a Finger (the thickening

of the Tail at its base) indicating the direction, here. From the Mouth of the Serpent (positional)

stem Double Lines indicating unseen (actually the entire Monkey was considered Double Lined andunseen).

Monkey, Storm,

Your Stream,

Bring Down,

from

High above,

Here,

The Mouth,

The water source.

We now come to the junction of the Monkey's Tail, Legs, and genital area. The Legs are in the Right

Facing Stance that means arrive or appear. The Rectangle that connects the Pair of legs is a Right

Leaning, waiting place sign.It is from here, the genital area, that the Double Lines (blue) continue

downward. In terms of the Monkey's Stance he is urinating or making water.

Appear,

at the

Waiting place

The (blue) Double Lines (unseen) leads downward(Positionally, below the Tail) to the ground

surface (the yellow angled Line).


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Appear,

Here

Make water,

Down,

onto the

Surface,

and

Below

it.

The water Line (blue) continues on past the ground's surface and down the side forming a large

(blue) Zigzag watersign. This part of the message terminates at the Slanted second surface Line

(yellow). The Slanted Stance indicates, awaiting or waiting. The Triangular areas (red) are the signs

forfemale, meaning the female earth. The Zigzag (watersign) is compounded with aplace sign and

the female sign, a female earth place located below the surface. This last sign rests upon an even

more steeply angled (yellow) surface sign. The reason for this is not entirely clear but may have

been used to connect or indicate the continuation of the main (larger) message at the surface level.

The water,

Below the surface ,

On the side,

An earth female,

Place

Illustration 5: The Stream of

Water


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Returning to the junction at the Genital area, the Tail, and the Body we see that the back of the

Monkey was created from a Bent Finger (tan) pointing the direction above, here. The Head of the

Monkey is a compound of several Forms each offset a bit perhaps so that they could be discerned

more easily. The Forehead of the Monkey (a Half Circle) is the upper half sign indicating the upper

world. This sign rests upon the Form of a Severed Finger (green) pointing to the same area as the

one (tan) that makes up the Back of the Monkey. This Finger is a compound Form that stretches

between the Position of the Ears (the two orifices or holeslocated on the sides. The two Fingers

their tips) make the V shaped sign for an opening. Also the left Ear of the Monkey also has the

V (Form) sign for an opening, positioned, on the side. The Central part of the sign (green) is a

place sign.

Here,

On the Surface,

Of the

Upper world,

the

Opening,

The

Place.

Next we find the (blue) male spiri t sign. This sign was based on the glans penis to signify genderjust as the Triangular female sign was based on the form of the female genital area. This identifies

the Monkey or storm as male (on or above the surface of earth female) and a spirit.

Illustration 6: The

Male Spirit


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The spirit of storm is by its Stance placing water (the large (blue) Zigzag sign beneath the surface

(yellow) of the earth. The Arms and Hands of the storm create the + shaped sign that means

crossing or passing through.The Hands are a bit odd in that the Monkey's Hands have a total of

only Nine Fingers. This would seem to indicate that the the water was placed into the nine levels of

the under world. The Monkey's left hand has the first Finger making the sign for, covered unseen,

followed by turning, and held down below (positional). The right hand's Fingers mean, turning,

here, place, below. Note that the third Finger on the right hand has a squared off fingertip turning

that finger into aplace sign.

Monkey, Storm,

Spirit,

Your hands,Pass through,

The waiting surface,

releasing water,

covered, unseen,

turning,

held down below.

Turning,

Here,

Place below

Illustration 7: The Form of

the Fingers


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We have now covered the Sections 1 and 2 and will now examine Section 3 which is, basically, the

sign (green) for a mountainside. The base of the mountainside has a Triangular (also green),

female earth sign on it that was created by the third (yellow) ground surface Line. The (yellow)

surface Line has the angled Stance that means waiting or awaiting. In Section 4 we see the upward

and downward pathways of water(blue) that is beneath the surface of the mountain. The water

Lines do not go higher than the top surface (positional) of the mountain. The reason for the three

(many?) surface levels is not known. One possibility is that they may represent the various levels of

the mountainside topography.

The mountainside,

The awaiting,

Female earth,

Her pathways,

of

Water,

Moving upward,

and

downward,

Below.

Illustration 8: The Mountainside and the Waiting Place


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Finally we have the relatively Large (green) Rectangularplace sign. Theplace signis angled the

same as the surface Line meaning, waiting or awaiting. This is a compound sign where the upper

left corner of the sign is in the Form of the Triangularfemale earth sign. Within the Triangle is the

(blue) sign for, a flow orflowing.

The Great Waiting Place,

of

The Earth female,

Her flow.

As mentioned earlier in this paper the statement about the earth female her flow may be a metaphor

related to the menses of earth woman. The implication may have been that the flow would not be

possible without the periodic rain from the storms on the mountainsides. The flow of subterranean

water was crucial for agriculture but it was also part of the cosmology as an important avenue for

the spirits of the deceased to rise to the earth's surface for their re birth and ascension to the sky.

The sky was the abode of the deceased, male, ancestors such as the Warrior's Star (Venus). It was

for this reason that many the signs were written large on the desert floor in order that the ancestors

could also read them. It the case of this particular Monkey Figure the aim was not so high up but

still to the sky where the storm spirit had his house or abode. It is not known whether the Nazca

had a clan or family lineage whose leader may have been named after Storm and who also, as a

deceased ancestor, may also have been thought to follow events on the earth.

The Imagery of the Monkey Or storm shows him hovering over a mountainside and placing water

into the earth. This reflects the actual placement of the topoglyph which was made on a hillside.However the smaller compound Forms (the Head) make the statement that the male spirit, his Arms

(his warriors), his Hands (his stewards or priests) place water into the earth. This may mean that

there was a ritual performed in the waiting place that involved people acting as the arms and hands

of the spirit who actually poured or put water into the ground as a means of enticing the storm spirit

to do likewise. It would be interesting to learn whether there was a geological fault near the

Monkey's hands. Photographs show a dark area near the hands that may be from erosion or a wash.

As in petroglyphs, topoglyphs some feature in the nearby environment may have inspired the

physical placement of the Figure as well as its incorporating aspects of that environment into its

message.

Illustration 9: The Great Waiting Place


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Documents

The Nazca Monkey Desert Figure