Alonzo Batilla's treasures

Over the course of his time in the West Indies during the early 18th century, the pirate Alonzo Batilla came across many treasures, the maps to which he would retrieve from the wrecks of merchant and patrolling ships alike, after having engaged them in naval combat.

Treasures

Hernán Cortés - The Spanish Conquistador

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  Heart of Gold - A large gold nugget shaped like a human heart
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  Montezuma's Goblet - A container used by the Aztec ruler to drink chocolate before entering his harem
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  Finger Ring - A ring made of cast gold representing the sacred figure of the jaguar
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  Sacred Mask - This sacred relic was not intended to be worn, but placed on statues as a tribute to the Gods
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  Lingote de Oro - A convenient way to carry stolen gold after the looting of Tenochtitlan
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  Turtle Necklace - A relic worn by the elected ruler of the Aztec people, Moctezuma II

San José - The Rich Galleon

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  Precious Box - This finely-crafted box was destined for the wife of an unlucky conquistador
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  Peruvian Coin - Forged in 1701 by the Viceroyalty of Peru, this coin features the initials of Philip V, the King of Spain
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  Money Chain - The gold links of this chain were designed to be twisted open and used as currency
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  Mythical Cup - This decorative object from the captain's cabin is adorned with phoenixes, dragons, and unicorns
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  Emerald Pendant - At a time where ostentatious displays of wealth were forbidden, only the most powerful could afford to wear this beautiful piece of jewelry
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  Master's Ring - Carved with the family crest, this ring was passed on from generation to generation

Imperio Español - The Treasure Fleet

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  Gold Bars - Forged in the colonies, these numbered gold bars financed the expensive wars of the Spanish crown
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  Gold Cob - A gold coin featuring the Jerusalem cross
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  Cross Chain - This chain is embellished with a gold cross and a medallion
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  Emerald Gold Pin - Lost in 1622, this precious relic was found by a lucky treasure hunter in 1985
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  Spanish Doubloon - A coin forged in Spain and used as trade currency in the Caribbean
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  Bosun's Whistle - A tool for communicating orders to the sailors perched high up in the rigging

Gems - The Rare Stones

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  Sacred Emerald - This legendary Aztec relic was destined to be reclaimed by Quetzalcoatl upon his return among the mortals
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  Ruby Tooth - This stone was an extremely rare find in the mines of the Spanish colonies
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  Raw Sapphire - This pure blue gemstone was dug out by a native slave in the mines of Nuevo Reino de Granada
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  Massive Jade Stone - A rare and valued find from the Motagua River in Nueva España
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  Large Amethyst - This precious stone was found in the Mato Grosso in Colonial Brazil
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  Golden Topaz - Only the rarest of topaz stones shine like gold nuggets

Lovers' souvenirs - Dangerous Liaisons

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  Soiled Crucifix - A pious French woman lost her crucifix along with her virtue in the arms of a legendary pirate
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  Oriental Hairpin - An ancient oriental artifact from the pleasure houses of the Orient
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  Lost Earrings - These were taken as a souvenir by a notorious French pirate
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  Lady's Ring - Presented as a gift by a rich nobleman, this ring was stolen along with a lady's heart
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  Lover's Coin - Bending gold coins was a custom when offering them to court a lady
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  Garnet Ring - One ring to woo them all and in his cabin, bed them

British Empire - The Navy's finest

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  Captain's Button - A gold button torn from a Royal Navy uniform
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  Royal Navy Ring - Engraved with the letters HMS – Her Majesty's Ship – this ring belonged to a Royal Navy officer
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  Noble's Knife - Fitted with a mahogany and gold handle, this sailor's tool must have belonged to a man of noble birth
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  Gold Sovereign - A coin representing queen Mary I, with a nominal value of one pound sterling
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  Mourning Ring - Death is a part of life. This relic belonged to a venerable land-owning family
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  Lost Chalice - Intrepid Jesuit priests expelled during the Reformation used this chalice to celebrate Mass

Aztec relics - Of Gods and Men

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  Mask of the Deity - Tezcatlipoca was associated with night, wind, sorcery, mischief, beauty, war, strife... and jaguars
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  Turquoise Mask - Made from a most precious stone, this mask of Quetzalcoatl was sent as tribute to the Aztec capital
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  Sacrificial Knife - A great sacrifice sustains the universe. Earth, food, people... all spring from the bodies of the sacrificial gods
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  Jade Mask - The ceremonial death mask of an Aztec ruler
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  Mosaic Mask - An ornamental turquoise mask representing Xiuhtecuhtli, the Aztec god of fire, day, and heat
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  Ancient Calendar - This adaptation of an old Mayan calendar - describing solar and lunar cycles and the motion of the brightest stars - was used to conduct ceremonies and rituals

Mayan relics - The Lost Empire

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  Statue of the Deity - Itzamna, the founder of Mayan culture, taught people how to grow plants, use medicine, and draw calendars
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  Statue of the Goddess - Ixhcel, the Goddess of childbirth and rainbows, decides how the moon affects men and women
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  Fertility Sculpture - Mayan women made offerings to the fertility goddess twice in their lifetime: once as a child, once as a mother
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  Deity's Head - A ten-pound piece of jade carved in the shape of the sun god
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  Onyx Tool - A hunting and fighting tool made of a precious, solid material
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  Mayan Codex - Pages featuring the Mayan calendar and its numeral system

Inca relics - Children of the Sun

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  Sun God Mask - Inti, patron deity of the Incas, son of the god of civilization, and father of the Sapa Inca, the ruler of the people
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  Ceremonial Mask - This mask of Mama Quilla, the moon mother, was used as a temple ornament
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  Ritual Mask - The Incas' gold masks are amongst the finest ever forged
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  Death Mask - Pre-dating the Incan empire, this mask was designed to be entombed for eternity
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  Statue of Viracocha - The creator God, father of all spirits and living beings in the universe
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  Statue of Kon - The god of rain and wind, son of the sun god and moon mother

Strange artifacts - The Oddest Treasures

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  Ancient Mask - Was this mysterious mask molded on a living man's head?
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  Chart Divider - A legendary pirate captain used this golden tool to navigate the seas and capture his prizes
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  Ancient Grooming Tool - An earwax and toothpick spoon, fallen out of fashion over the centuries
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  Mixtec Serpent - The double-headed serpent is associated with Quetzalcoatl, the all powerful Aztec god
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  Skull Goblet - An old Mixtec artifact used to collect the blood of sacrificed humans
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  Flying Device - An age-old Mayan relic resembling a bird... or is it a glider?

Henry Morgan - The King of Pirates

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  Ship's Bell - The only remains of HMS Oxford, a beautiful Navy warship captured by Morgan and destroyed by his drunk pirates the night before their attack on Cartagena
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  Letter of Commission - Seized from a French ship, this letter was sent by the governor of Baracoa to permit the French navies to trade with the Spanish and attack British pirates
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  Magdalena Emblem - A relic from one of the most beautiful and better equipped ships of the Spanish Armada, burned by Morgan's fire ship during the battle of Maracaibo
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  Ancient Artifact - This relic was stolen by Morgan during the looting of Panama, a bloody episode that claimed the lives of a thousand Spanish soldiers
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  Astrolabe - This rare nautical instrument, one of Morgan's prized possessions, was stolen from his house before it was destroyed in the Port Royal earthquake
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  Gold Rum - An ordinary rum bottle filled with gold dust. Captain Morgan's special!

François l'Olonnais - The Bane of the Spanish

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  Pirate Cutlass - This blade was used to behead an entire Spanish crew. The only survivor was left alive to spread the tale of this pirate's cruelty
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  Gaucho Knife - The gaucho uses this tool to eat, kill and protect, but this pirate turned it into a torture instrument
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  Old Pocket Watch - This family treasure from the 16th century was finally surrendered to this pirate after hours of merciless torture
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  Pieces of Eight - A coffer full of silver coins worth eight reales each, part of a classical pirate bounty, this one taken during the sacking of Maracaibo
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  Bag of Gemstones - Small, yet valuable. This pirate found these stones in the house of a noble in Gibraltar, hours before the city was sacked
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  Gold Tooth - The only remains of this pirate after he was captured and dismembered by the native tribes of the New Kingdom of Granada

Exquemelin - The Barber Surgeon

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  Famous Book - The History of the Bouccaneers of America is a classical account of the lives of the famous early Golden Age pirates. Henry Morgan had it censored and amended to convey a more "proper" tale of his life
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  Medicine Chest - The most precious thing on a ship. Many a life could be saved with the potions stored in this wooden box... except when their illiterate user mixed them up
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  Surgeon's Saw - When limbs were doomed and pirates drunk enough to lie on the surgeon's table, the improvised doctor pulled out these tools and did what had to be done
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  Company Stock - This piece of paper issued by the West India Company is worth a lot more than it looks. After King Louis XIV dissolved the company in 1674, he had all the company shares bought back
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  Huguenot Cross - The proud property of a persecuted people, the members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France
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  Gold Razor - This barber's utensil was offered to Henry Morgan's barber by the infamous captain himself... after he stole it from a rich Spanish conquistador

African relics - A plundered continent

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  Dogon Axe - The animal figures engraved on this ceremonial bronze axe lend their strength to the warrior wielding it
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  Ram's Head - This ceremonial artifact was worn by the Olowo, the chief of the Owo state, to assert his power
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  Hunting Horn - Carved from an elephant's tusk, this hunting tool from the kingdom of Kongo allowed the hunters to coordinate deadly attacks
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  Sacred Leopard - Stolen from the kingdom of Benin, this ivory leopard was one of the symbolic representations of the Oba, the king
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  Egyptian Scarab - Placed on the throat, chest and heart of the mummy, these artifacts allowed their bearer to be accepted in the eternal afterlife
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  Soul Washer - Worn by high-ranking members of the Ashanti people, this protective pectoral disk was also a convenient way to store wealth

Sea treasures - Rare finds

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  Teardrop Pearl - The rounder and smoother the pearl, the more precious the find
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  Sea Glass Necklace - This gorgeous necklace was made with the most beautiful pieces of sea glass
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  Lion's Paw - A rare seashell used as a mount for this wonderful set of jewels
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  Gold Nautilus - A nautilus shell serves as the main structure of this exceptional gold-plated sculpture
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  Glory of the Atlantic - The Conus Granulatus is one of the rarest and most prized seashells of the West Indies
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  Black Pearl - The smooth surface of this perfectly round pearl makes it an extremely rare natural occurrence

Lucky charms - Symbols of future wealth

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  Wealth Elephant - In the ancient kingdom of Siam, the albino elephant was a sacred elephant that had to be tended to with much care
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  Emerald Clover - One leaf for faith, one leaf for hope, one leaf for love, and one leaf for luck
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  Jade Pig - In Chinese culture, jade and pigs were symbols of good fortune
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  Bloodstone Bonbonniere - With its distinctive red spots, the bloodstone was commonly used to stop bleeding and bring change
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  Albatross Pendant - When sailors saw this bird at sea, they took it as a sign that fortune was on their side
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  Dreamcatcher - The symbol of the Spider Woman, who watched over the Ojibwe children during the darkest hours

Rare weapons - From all over the world

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  Portuguese Blunderbuss - This fire-breathing weapon, often referred to as dragon, could be loaded with various types of ammunition, including gravel and sand
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  Flintlock Pistols - This finely ornamented pair of weapons most probably belonged to a rich Dutchman
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  Musketeer Rapier - Who knows how this outdated old-world weapon found its way to the West Indies?
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  Indian Dagger - This silver katar was used as an extension of the arm and fist to deal deadly attacks to the head and torso of its wielder's enemies
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  Ottoman Saber - This one-handed curved weapon favored by the Turks originated from the famous Mongol blades
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  German Axe-Pistol - This seventeenth century weapon combined two very functional melee favorites for maximal damage

Snuff bottles - Crafted in the Orient

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  Elderly Man - Carved from a bone, this snuff bottle represents the face of a happy tobacco-sniffing old man
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  Red Carp - A red colored snuff bottle engraved with swimming carp fish. A symbol of success and prosperity
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  Fish Flower - A turquoise snuff bottle to store one's ration of powdered tobacco
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  Twin Relief - These two hand-carved Chinese snuff bottles feature the finest coral, lapis and turquoise beadings
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  Ivory Solace - This Chinese snuff bottle is engraved with a scene from the life of Confucius
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  Tibetan Silver - This ancient snuff bottle worn around the neck would preserve one's tobacco from the cold and heat

Alcohol - Drunk on plunder

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  Old Cognac - Somewhere in the world, a parched French captain must be miserable...
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  Wine Crate - This precious loot will turn a thirsty pirate into the most sophisticated drunk
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  Ale Cask - A healthy ration of pale ale. A light yet excellent drink, recommended for the whole family
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  Jamaican Rum - The pirate classic drink. The Caribbean's signature alcohol
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  Vintage Bordeaux - This old precious bottle must have been saved for a very special occasion
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  Whiskey - A product of the Old Bushmills Distillery in Ireland, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world

Mayan Genesis - The Creation Myth

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  Hunahpu - The first of the Hero Twins, the youthful hunter of birds
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  Xbalanque - The second of the Hero Twins, nicknamed the Jaguar Sun
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  Vucub-Caquix - The false sun-moon demon bird, defeated by the Hero Twins after severing Hunahpu's arm
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  Buluc Chabtan - The God of war, violent death, and human sacrifice
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  The Hunter God of Death - The were-animal, the shape-shifter, hunter of heads, of deer... of humans
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  Howler Monkey God - The Mayan Deity of the Arts, patron of the scribes and artisans

Lords of the Night 1 - The 9-day cycle

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  God 1 - The Powerful Lord of the Center, representing energy and enthusiasm
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  God 2 - The sacrificial knife, symbol of responsibility and personal sacrifice
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  God 3 - The God of Sun, symbol of the need for respect and recognition
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  God 4 - The God of Maize and Subsistence, representing protection and communication
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  God 5 - The God of Death, symbol of sensitivity and touchiness
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  God 6 - The Goddess of Jade Water, representing independence and the longing for recognition

Lords of the Night 2 - The character archetypes

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  God 7 - The Goddess of Confession, representing refinement and sexuality
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  God 8 - The Jaguar God, symbol of liveliness and the need for conversation
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  God 9 - The God of Rain, representing independence and self-sufficiency
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  Dresden Codex - The oldest book written in the Americas played a key role in deciphering Mayan hieroglyphs
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  Madrid Codex - Discovered during the Spanish conquest, this codex provides precious almanacs and astronomical tables
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  Mayan Calendar - The cyclical nature of time perceived by the Mayas, cornerstone of their life-death imagery

Lords of Light - Deities of the Earth

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  Cantzicnal - Son of Itzamna and Ixchel, the God of the Northern Sky represents the cold north wind
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  Hosanek - The God of the Southern Sky stands like a pillar supporting the heavens and reveals the golden hue of the corn
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  Hobnil - Standing in the Far East, Hobnil supports the eastern sky and glows with the warm red of the rising sun
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  Saccimi - The Pillar God of the Western Sky is represented by the color black, the shade of the sky after the sun has set
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  Stone tablet - This tablet represents a Bacab, any of the four Mayan deities of the interior of the earth
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  Itzamna - The creator deity, residing in the sky. The invisible high god

Vikings artefacts - First explorers

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  Drinking Horn - A very common Viking accessory, made from the horns of goats or cattle
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  Viking Shield - The unique way of holding the shield allowed Vikings to use it as an offensive and defensive tool
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  Viking Helmet - An expensive addition to the Viking's fighting gear, making it a rare find
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  Viking Sword - Rarer than the battle axe, this prestigious weapon was the prerogative of chieftains and kings
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  Sacred Runes - Odin's gift to humanity. Runes can be used for casting spells or blessing people and places
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  Bracelet - Who was supposed to wear this wonderful piece of craftsmanship?

Mayan Weapons - Classic headbreakers

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  Hul'che - A wooden shaft used to throw darts or arrows at great speed
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  Short Spear- A powerful throwing weapon used by hunters and warriors alike
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  Club - The short handle of this finely-carved spear gave its wielder maximum strength on impact
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  Obsidian Axe - The blade of this short axe was so strong it could crack a man's head with one single blow
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  Obsidian Dagger - Carved from one block of solid obsidian, this knife was truly unbreakable
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  Blowgun - The length and small diameter of this traditional blowgun allowed for great precision

Chess Pieces - Ancient gameplay

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  Pawn - The isolated pawn casts gloom over the entire chessboard
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  Knight - Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game
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  Bishop - The future belongs to he who has the bishops
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  Rook - Chess is, above all, a fight
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  Queen - When you see a good move, look for a better one
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  King - Life is more than just chess. Though a king dies, life goes on

Animal Kingdom - Holy figures

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  Egyptian Cat - Seen as a blessing for killing mice, vermin, and snakes, cats became associated with protection and progress
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  Chinese Dragon - A powerful animal figure symbolizing the power of nature, the control over water, and the luck bestowed on the worthy souls
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  Mayan Turtle - A sacred symbol of the Earth, associated with the myth of creation and perpetual rebirth of the sun
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  Roman Eagle - A symbol of strength and power, the eagle was the emblem of the Roman legions
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  Persian Griffin - This amalgam of an eagle and a lion served as palace ornaments and represented the guardians of light
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  Greek Horse - The famous Trojan Horse, symbol of man's trickery and intelligence

The Zodiac - The Sun's path

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  Aries - Depicted as a man with a ram's head by the Egyptian, Aries represented fertility and creativity
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  Taurus - One of the earliest constellations, with the giant star Aldebaran as the bull's bloodshot eye
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  Gemini - Castor and Pollux are its two brightest stars, the Great Twins united by Zeus in immortality
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  Cancer - The dimmest of the zodiacal constellations, the Dark Sign is black and deprived of eyes
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  Leo - Identified by the Greeks as the Nemean Lion killed by hero Heracles as one of the twelve labors
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  Virgo - Associated with fertility, abundance or the goddess of wheat and agriculture

The Zodiac - The Moon's path

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  Libra - With its stars representing the scales of justice, this constellation is the symbol of truth and civility
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  Scorpio - Sent by Apollo to attack the huntsman Orion and kill him, the Scorpion was later raised to heavens by Zeus
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  Sagittarius - The constellation resembles a stick figure archer pointing its bow towards the Scorpion's heart
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  Capricorn - Represented as a hybrid of a goat and a fish since the 21st century BC, when the winter solstice occurred under Capricorn
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  Aquarius - The water bearer, holder of the spring rains and the destructive floods of the ancient times
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  Pisces - Two fish tied by a cord, Aphrodite and Eros leaping into the sea to escape the monster Typhon

Headdresses - Gorgeous adornments

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  Warrior Headdress - Designed to impress enemies and imbue the warrior with the strength of mythological animals
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  Priest Headdress - The symbol of the priest's status, the human link between gods and men
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  Tucan Headdress - This richly decorated headdress was worn by an influent Mayan nobleman
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  Great Tree Headdress - This headdress associated its bearer with the Great Tree, the central pole holding up the sky
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  Sacred Bird Headdress - This headdress is a tribute to the Celestial Bird, a figure of the Mayan Creation myth
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  Crocodile Headdress - The headdress is an homage to the crocodile, the original animal, symbolizing new beginnings and new potential

Independence Day - Revolutionary war artifacts

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  War Drum - The drums were an important part of the battlefield communications system, with various drum rolls used to sign different commands from officers to troops
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  Cocked hat - Troops with flintlock muskets tended to knock each other's wide brimmed hats off when they drilled in close formation, so they sewed the brims to the crown
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  Engraved Powder Horn - Probably used on board ship for priming the cannon with fine powder
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  American Gunsmith - An American gunsmith assembled this pistol utilizing parts from a Model 1733 French dragoon pistol
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  Revolutionary Grenade - Grenades of this type played an important part in the biggest naval battle of the Revolutionary War
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  Grand Union Flag - The first emblem of the United States Navy after the Declaration of Independence

Pirates' Day - Navigation tools

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  Miniature Globe – The entire living world in the palm of your hand
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  Bronze Compass – This apparently mundane tool is encased in precious metal
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  Antique Compass – One of man’s oldest tools, used to mark distances and establish one’s position on a map
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  Nocturnal – Used to tell time by the celestial clock. One ring was set to the date and the arm aligned with the correct stars
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  Legendary Spyglass – This precious tools is rumoured to have belonged to a merciless French pirate
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  Ancient Map – The extraordinary travels of William Dampier, the first man to circumnavigate the world three times

Halloween - Esoteric stuff

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  Thinking Skull – Traces of stone chips were found in the skin around the neck, suggesting that the victim was killed with antiquated tools, probably for sacrifice
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  Torture Doll – The Slaves brought from Africa brought their own form of image magic known as Bocio
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  Snake in a Jar – Snakes are considered to be the holders of intuitive knowledge - knowing that which cannot be spoken
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  Sacrificial Wooden Stake - Used for the purposes of mastering divine magnetism, by giving the sacrificed life energy to the gods
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  Shrunken Head – Reduce the head of his enemy allows to lock in his mind and thus to prevent his revenge
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  Spirit Bottles – In many instances the spirits trapped within the typical Voodoo Spirit Botttle are benevolent and are easily encouraged to act on behalf of their keepers, either in bringing luck or love or in keeping evil far away

Christmas - Celebration items

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  Alcool Cups – Set of British Royal Navy Rum or Grog Measures – 1 Quart, 1 Pint and 2 ½ Pint Measures
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  Music Instrument – Sailors have a long tradition of entertaining themselves with song, and Christmas carols were very popular at the time
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  Silver Cutlery – Old silver plates, forks and spoons used by pirates for celebrations
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  Treasure Coins – Pirates consistently had access to better food than most sailors, plenty of liquor, and exotic spices because of their richness. Pirates were often warmly welcomed by business associates who enjoyed partying with these charming rogues
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  Wooden Harpoon – For pirates, the hunt would be part of the excitement of the holiday. They also had the right to feast for Christmas!
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  Bell of the Whydah – A ship’s bell is used to indicate the time aboard a ship and hence to regulate the sailor’s duty watches

Chinese New Year - Chinese pirates' treasure

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  Red Flag – The Red Flag was one of the most powerful pirate fleets in all of China, controlled by the famous and powerful female pirate Ching Shih.
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  Magnetic Compass – First invented as a device for divination as early as the Chinese Han Dynasty, the magnetic compass was later adopted for navigation by the Song Dynasty Chinese during the 11th century.
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  Dao Sword – Chinese pirates mostly fought with traditional Chinese weapons as dao, jian, qiang and gun.
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  Traditional Clothes – This kind of clothes was worn by most people and pirates themselves at this period.
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  Dragon Seal – Ivory dragon seal with carved decoration, dated from pirates' age.
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  Antique Chinese Pot – Painted pottery pot with raised reliefs of dragons and phoenixes.

Reference

• Assassin's Creed: Pirates