Archaeologica.org

In late August 1984 I visited Chichen Itza. Most people are familiar with its famous ball court:



At the end of the ball court on the north side is a temple named "The Temple of the Bearded Man":



While there I went into the temple and took a picture of the following panel:



Notice the image of the head with a big nose and full beard (the panel was about one foot square). This guy doesn't look like any other carving in Chichen Itza. He must have been one helluva ball player! The panels are weather-worn and that's the best image I could get. Enhanced resolution might bring out more features.

The temple in question, with panels, was completed about 1,000AD and abandoned shortly thereafter. Who was this guy?

Hancock shows a photo of an Olmec stele showing a bearded white man.

Of course, the Olmecs far pre-date Columbus so how can this be?

The Wandering Jew?

Roy.

Hey, 40 years wandering around a desert....how good could they be with directions?

True! Now if they'd turned south instead of north they'd have the oil and not the Arabs!

Roy.

I guess it all comes down to your definition of “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
But as a genetic group they do have a well deserved reputation of not being afraid to travel and take risks if the possible payoff is right.
Was he a ball player or a bookie?

I saw the same thing several years earlier. My friends and I sat up all night discussing what we thought it could be (well at least as long as the tequila lasted)

Reach any conclusions, Leona?

If the full-bearded, European looking dude wound up on the ball court temple wall it makes me wonder how many others found their way to the Americas, but never became famous for posterity. How much techno-information, if any, would diffuse from a small boatload of Europeans sailing west to escape whatever or whoever was chasing them back home?

Reach any conclusions, Leona?

Yep! It was a good brand!

Roy.

Can't remember the brand. But considering that my b.f. and I were both poor working stiffs from north of the border and our friends were mostly students from the University of Mexico, I'll guarantee the we didn't spend a hell of a lot.

And Min, by the time we finished the second bottle, I think we decided that he was a Norseman or was it Martian. I do remember that we had more fun than he probably would have had if he lost the ball game. When the Mayans said you were a loser, it had a whole different meaning than it does today.

You haven't had a good time Leona till you have to phone the following day to ask whether you had a good time or not.
Trust me!

Roy.

Been there.

The Classic Test---Throw Panties Against The Wall---If They Stick--You Have Had A Good Time