The Olmec Legacy

Greetings! Thank you for your work, I really appreciate what youre doing. Im a Mexican Native American and I can tell you with no doubt that the facial features carved on these heads are very native of that region. I have travelled and made friends around and have seen these features in many native peoples. It is not uncommon to have a friend teased because he "looks like an olmeca head". I remember that in my Kickboxing class was a guy from that region, we called him LaMolle because he looked like an olmec head and he seemed to be made of stone, you could counter with jabs and it would get you nowhere, his nose would not bleed, his eye sockets would barely swell, and he would keep fighting. Maybe the olmeca standard of beauty revolved around the rugged features of a warrior.

I am forever impressed by the OLMECS. I remember an exhibition I saw in Moscow on American ART and I immediately fell in love with the Aztecs, Toltecs, Olmecs, Mayas, and Incas. The Americas have produced such wealth and history. I have travelled in Mexico, Guatemala and Peru besides other countries of Latin America and I can't get enough of this history. They were people who left such a legacy for us that we cannot ignore them. May the spirit of those ancient Americans live on for ever.

“Let’s take a moment to thank the Olmecs for helping bestowing chocolate on this cruel world...” chef kiss

My Family are indigenous Zapotecs from Oaxaca and some of us have more Maya features and some of us look just like the Olmecs. Sometimes people confuse us for being Polynesian or from the Philippines because of our almond shaped eyes etc.

Incredible video. My mother's mother came from the mountains of El Salvador. She would often talk about the story from her Great Grandmother's time. She would say they came to be there from another places. The place where the big heads that watched and told stories. You showed the Olmec's area of influence, and it makes sense now. Thank you. I wish my grandma were alive to tell her she was right. She had a small black stone head with the same motifs. It was buried with her when she passed.

I find it sad people arguing over who made these beautiful sculptures, the indigenous population should be allowed to be proud of what their ancestors did. I've seen some of these sculptures in Mexico City at Museo Nacional de Antropología, I suggest anyone start there if you're interested in indigenous Mexican culture.

I have no real connection to ancient Meso-America, but being an artist, I deeply appreciate the complexity of their art, and I think it's beautiful that it is their art by which we remember them. Since my first inquiry into the Olmec, I've been very impressed by those infamous basalt heads: their features are so clearly defined, the carving technique so delicate and precise, and their expressions communicate so much longing and internal struggle, it's hard for me to look away. Perhaps it's projection on my part, but I think that might be the way they would want to be remembered.

Tabasco native here. Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed your exposition and tone/delivery. I didn't know Olmecs [possibly] originated that MesoAm calendar. There is a sense of community around the word "Olmec" in my hometown. It's weird because there is little connection with modern "peoples" so it feels like cheap/manufactured 21st century tribalism. Like Italians from Brooklyn that can't speak Italian, no offense. "You're a modern Mexican from Tabasco, not an Olmec, calm down". I saw it in another comment and can corroborate. "He looks like an Olmec head" is a common way of mocking someone's physical looks in Tabasco, even in 2023. That human face, the Olmec -face is still around in Tabasco, maybe a little bit to the south of Veracruz as well. They do not look like your median face from the Yucatan peninsula (Maya) or the Valle de Mexico (Mexica and others).

Interesting fact about the Olmec Heads is that the bottoms are flattened on a slant so that they would be naturally facing upwards towards the sky. I think they should be displayed this way.

Mexico is a fascinating place with stunning landscapes!

I worked with a Mexican about 15 years ago. When I looked at him I knew he was a descendent of the Olmecs. Fat lips and I mean huge lips, fat nose, and Indian Hair. His ancestors come from South Mexico he explained. I believe him

This is so cool. I studied Mesoamerican culture and art as an anthropology major. I even spent a semester in Mexico in 1980 - what a great experience.

As an artist, I'm always amazed by the realism of Olmec statues! Carving lean, well-muscled figures (like those popularized by the Hellenistic Greek era) is already a difficult process. However, I can tell you from personal struggles that adding subcutaneous tissue (fat, etc.) adds an other (literal) layer of difficulty, and is very difficult to master. As with all art, some of the Olmec works are more masterful than others - but compare a Greek Hercules, the Olmec wrestler and a modern-day pro-wrestler or Maori haka performer. It's clear that the Olmec depiction looks much more like a real, fleshy human being that one might meet in life. The fact that these figures are rendered in a medium as tricky as basalt makes it even more amazing. And bear in mind: the Olmec was one of those progenitor societies, with (as far as we know) no preceding tradition of dedicated artistry. Sure, there were people who made art - but there was no long-running history of artistic tradesmanship to draw on, as there were for the vaunted Greco-Roman or Egyptian styles. I've always wondered why Olmec art doesn't get more recognition and praise.

Yes, as a young kid in my native México, I remember these big big stone heads on the roads to Acapulco, Guerrero, on way to visit family with my abuela. Cheers for my people!

My father is from Costa Rica. The natives that I've met have VERY similar characteristics to those head monuments. Very interesting.

Mexico has such beautiful history

I just found your channel, and suscribed right away. I'm a mixed mexican from Oaxaca with mostly zapotec blood. Always fascinated about our culture, some of my earliest memories are walking down Monte Albán's buildings, so every opportunity I had over the years old visiting old archeological sites I would take It. I went to architecture school in Central México and I learned more about this ancient native América civilizations. Almost 7 years ago I moved to Cancún and I friend of mine suggested me to start working as a guide in the area, It wasn't a difficult decision to make. I got certified and now I do private and collective tours in places like Chichén Itzá, Cobá, Tulum, Ek Balam, maya communities and more. And everytime It keeps growing the fascination and respect for my people of old. This video is one of the best I have seen about Olmec, thanks for putting a lot of work behind, I do videos myself and I know It really takes lots of sitting hours to come with something as good as this. Maybe we can meet if you come to this area, It would be great talking much deeper about the maya that for sure has a HUGE influence from Olmec.

Can't break these olmec nose.

Thank you for a most entertaining presentation of what could have been a most dry and boring history lesson. You kept it fresh and interesting throughout! Fasinating info and completely new insights of the past! ❤😂😊

Amazingly succinct considering a vast topic in time. You are easy to understand like having a conversation with a friend. Thanks for your simplicity.