Art and Iconography 3

This post is a continuation of the material developed in the articles "Art and Iconography 1" and "Art and Iconography 2." A dominant theme in the Book of Mormon is resurrection of the dead.

• The term "resurrection" appears 75 times in the text e.g. Mosiah 15:21, Alma 12:25.
• Some variant of the phrase "rise from the dead" occurs 16 times e.g. 2 Nephi 25:13. Alma 40:9.
• The idea of victory over the grave is expressed 8 times e.g. Mosiah 16:8, Helaman 14:25.
• Some variation on the theme of breaking or loosing the bands of death appears 44 times e.g. Alma 11:42, Mormon 9:13.
• Being born again or born of God is mentioned 15 times e.g. Mosiah 27:25, Alma 22:15.

Izapa monuments portray some of the most striking resurrection images ever created. Stela 1 has birth imagery in a heavenly setting.

Izapa Stela 1
 Sky Panel with Celestial Umbilical Cord
Norman 1973 Plate 2

Stela 3 depicts a journey toward post-mortality.

Izapa Stela 3
Dis-embodied Figure Ascending in a Boat
Norman 1973 Plate 6

Stela 9 also shows a figure ascending.

Izapa Stela 9
Winged Deity Bearing a Human Heavenward
Norman 1973 Plate 18

Stela 50 is unmistakable.

Izapa Stela 50
Winged Figure Rises on Umbilical Cord from Skeleton
Norman 1973 Plate 50