Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Manuscripts Part 4

If we refer now to Plate 43 of the Borgian Codex, as found in Kingsborough's "Mexican Antiquities," Vol. III, a photo-engraved copy of which is presented in our Fig. 4, we shall, as I believe, not only find additional confirmation of the views I have advanced in reference to the peculiar arrangement of the days around the quadrilateral in the plate of the Cortesian Codex, but also strong evidence of a common origin of the Mexican and Central American calendars.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 4.--Copy of plate 43. Borgian Codex.]

This plate of the Borgian Codex, which is Mexican and not Maya, consists of four groups, the whole arranged in the form of a square; each group, also a square, is surrounded by a serpent, the heads of the four serpents being brought near together at the center, which is indicated by the figure of the sun. Each of these serpents, as I have heretofore intimated,[9] probably denotes one of the four-year series of the cycle of fifty-two years, just as in the Maya cycle we would say "the Cauac series," "Kan series," etc.[10] The thirteen years of each series, is denoted by the small circles on the serpents. The four large figures are, as we shall hereafter see, fanciful representations of certain ideas held by this people in regard to the four cardinal points, each probably with its significant color as understood by the artist, and each probably indicating one of the four-year bearers.

But at present our attention is directed to something else to be found on this plate. In each of the four s.p.a.ces and around each of the large figures we observe five Mexican day symbols connected usually with the main figure by heavy-waved colored lines. What is the signification of these day symbols in this connection? Precisely the same, I believe, as those in the four sides of the quadrilateral in the Codex Cortesia.n.u.s.

But first I would remark that the waved, colored, connecting lines have no other signification than to denote the parts of the body to which the days are here severally a.s.signed; hence, as they have no bearing on the questions now under discussion, I shall have no occasion to take any further notice of them.

If we arrange the Mexican days in four columns as we did the Maya, that is, placing the first name in the first column, the second in the second column, and so on, following the usual orthography and the order given, the groups will be as follows:

TABLE XI.

1. 2. 3. 4.

c.i.p.actli. Ehecatl. Calli. Cuetzpalin.

Coatl. Miquiztli. Mazatl. Tochtli.

Atl. Itzquintli. Ozomatli. Malinalli.

Acatl. Ocelotl. Quauhtli. Cozcaquauhtli.

Ollin. Tecpatl. Quiahuitl. Xochitl.

Or, to give them their English equivalents as we usually find them, as follows:

TABLE XII.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Dragon. Wind. House. Lizard.

Snake. Death. Deer. Rabbit.

Water. Dog. Monkey. Gra.s.s.

Cane. Tiger. Eagle. Vulture.

Movement. Flint. Rain. Flower.

Comparing these columns with the symbols around each one of these large figures we find that to each one of the latter are a.s.signed the days of one of these four columns. In the lower left-hand square, to the large green figure, those in column 1; thus, at the left foot, the Dragon; to the back of the head, the Snake; to the eye, Cane; in the right hand, Water; and below the elbow, but connected with the mouth, Ollin or movement (sometimes translated earthquake). To the yellow figure, in the lower right-hand square, are applied those of the second column; to the black figure, in the upper right-hand square, those of the third column; and to the red figure, in the upper left-hand square, those of the fourth column. There is therefore scarcely any doubt that this arrangement is for precisely the same purpose as that in the plate of the Codex Cortesia.n.u.s.

As proof that the Mexicans used these combinations in much the same way as the Maya priests I call attention to the following examples:

On Plate 59, of the same (Borgian) Codex, we find two columns of days, one on the right and the other on the left, as follows:

_Left column._ _Right column._ Tochtli. Quauhtli.

Ehecatl. Atl.

Cozcaquauhtli. Calli.

Itzquintli. Ollin.

Cuetzpalin. Ozomatli.

Tecpatl. Coatl.

Malinalli. Quiahuitl.

Miquiztli. Acatl.

Xochitl. Mazatl.

Ocelotl. c.i.p.actli.

Comparing these with the names in the four columns (Table XI), we find that those on the left were taken alternately from columns 4 and 2, and those on the right alternately from columns 3 and 1. On Plates 61 and 62 we find substantially the same arrangement, or at least the same idea as the extract from Codex Peresia.n.u.s, heretofore referred to. On these two plates (embracing all of 61, and the lower left-hand square of 62) we find five squares, each one bordered on two sides with the symbol of a single day repeated thirteen times and accompanied by numeral signs.

Commencing with the square on page 62, where the repeated day symbol is c.i.p.actli, and reading the line from left to right and up the column, we find the numbers to be as follows, filling out the effaced ones in the line:

_c.i.p.actli_, 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 11, 5, 12, 6, 13, 7 (the symbol being repeated with each number.)[TN-10]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 5.--Copy of Plates 51 and 52, Vatican Codex B.]

In the next, the lower right-hand square on Plate 61, where the day is Coatl, the numbers, reading the same way, are as follows (filling out one effaced one):

_Coatl_, 5, 12, 6, 13, 7, 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 11.

Taking the lower left-hand square next, the day Atl, and reading in the same direction, we find the numbers to be as follows (filling out two effaced groups):

_Atl_, 9, 3, 10, 4, 11, 5, 12, 6, 13, 7, 1, 8, 2.

We take the upper left hand next, reading from left to right and up:

_Acatl_, 13, 7, 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 10, 4, 11, 5, 12, 6.

Lastly, the upper right-hand square, reading the same way as the last.

_Ollin_, 4, 11, 5, 12, 6, 13, 7, 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 10.

We have only to turn to our abridged calendar (Table III) to find this explained. If we take the Ix column and select every fourth day, to wit, Ix, Ezanab, Ik, Cimi, and Oc, and read the line of numbers opposite each, we shall find them corresponding precisely with those mentioned here. For instance, those opposite _Ix_ the same as those opposite _c.i.p.actli_, &c.

We further notice that these five names, _c.i.p.actli_, _Coatl_, _Atl_, _Acatl_, and _Ollin_, or, to use the English names, Dragon, Snake, Water, Cane, and Movement, are precisely those of column 1 of the arrangement of the Mexican days as heretofore given (Table XI).

On plates 13-17 of the Vatican Codex, B, Kingsborough, Vol. III, we find precisely the same arrangement as that just described, and where the numerals are so distinct that there can be no doubt in regard to any of them. The days are exactly the same--c.i.p.actli, Coatl, Atl, Acatl, and Ollin--and in the same order, but the plates are to be taken in the reverse, order, commencing with 17, and the columns and lines are to be read thus: Commencing at the bottom at the right hand, upward to the top, and then along the line toward the left.

On Plate 58 of the Borgian Codex we find six lines of days with five in each line. Five out of these six lines are composed of the five days just named, simply varied as to the respective positions they occupy in the line, but maintaining the same order.

On Plate 17, same Codex, we see two lines corresponding with the first and second columns of the arrangement of the days heretofore given.

But without further reference to these smaller or isolated groups, we have conclusive proof of this method of arranging the days among the Mexicans, in three extended series--one found on Plates 49-56 of the Vatican Codex B; one on Plates 31-38 of the Borgian Codex, and another on Plates 1-8 of the Bologna Codex.

I give here the arrangement found in the first, which is precisely the same as that of the Borgian Codex, except that this is to be read from the left to the right, and that of the Borgian Codex from the right to the left, both commencing with the bottom line (numbered 5 in the following list):

A photo-engraved copy of one plate of the former is also given in Fig.

5, as it furnishes proof that the days and the order in which they follow each other are the same as I have given them.

For the benefit of English readers the list is given in the English equivalents of the Mexican names.[11]

TABLE XIII.

1. Water. Dog. Monkey. Gra.s.s. Cane.

2. Movement. Flint. Rain. Flower. Dragon.

3. Snake. Death. Deer. Rabbit. Water.

4. Cane. Tiger.[12] Eagle. Vulture. Movement.

5. Dragon. Wind. House. Lizard. Snake.

1. Tiger. Eagle. Vulture. Movement. Flint.