"This drawing consists of no more than two
elements. One is a wide line with a stem which,
almost a mile long, leads into the maze of lines
at the edge of the pampa. The other is one
single uninterrupted line, that starts from one
side of the long surface and after describing
the contours of the monkey, consisting only of
curves, runs through two different zig-zag
shapes and crosses sixteen times over the
geometric surface at whose top it finally ends."
Maria Reiche, Mystery on the desert. See
also:
Nazca Monkey
Puzzle.
The geometry of the Monkey Nazca Line is
quite impressive, given that it was created
without modern surveying tools. The Monkey
is composed of a series of straight lines
and curves that form a realistic profile of
a monkey, with an elongated body, a large
head, and a long tail.
The body of the Monkey is made up of a
long, slightly curved line that runs from
the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
The line is relatively thin and uniform in
width, suggesting that the Nazca people had
a good sense of proportion and scale.
The head of the Monkey is particularly
well-formed, with a round shape and a series
of curves that form the contours of the face
and ears. The Nazca people were able to
create the impression of depth and volume by
varying the thickness of the lines and using
shading techniques to create a sense of
light and shadow.
The limbs and tail of the Monkey are also
well-proportioned and symmetrical, with each
leg and arm extending out from the body at
the same angle. The tail curls up at the
end, giving the Monkey a playful and dynamic
appearance.
Overall, the geometry of the Monkey Nazca
Line is a remarkable example of the Nazca
people's ability to create precise and
detailed shapes using simple tools and
techniques. The Monkey is just one of many
incredible geoglyphs that make up the Nazca
Lines, and they continue to fascinate and
inspire people around the world.
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