Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Manuscripts: Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1881-82, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1884, pages 3-66Thomas, Cyrus
History
Notes on Certain Maya and Mexican Manuscripts: Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1881-82, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1884, pages 3-66
Thomas, Cyrus
Calendar -- Mexico; Maya calendar
1. Tochtli -- Rabbit -- South -- Earth.
2. Acatl -- Cane -- East -- Water.
3. Tecpatl -- Flint -- North -- Fire.
4. Calli -- House -- West -- Air.
Judging from the differences shown in these lists, we are forced to the
conclusion that no entirely satisfactory result has been reached in
reference to the assignment of the different symbols to the cardinal
points; still a careful analysis will bring out the fact that there is a
strong prevalency of opinion on one or two points among the earlier
authorities. In order that this may be seen I present here a list in a
different form from the preceding.
REFERENCE OF THE YEARS TO THE CARDINAL POINTS.
_Tochtli_--_Acatl_--_Tecpatl_--_Calli._
Sahagun -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Gemelli -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Duran -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Orozco y Berra -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Chavero -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Torquemada -- South -- East -- North -- West.
Boturini -- North -- West -- South -- East.
REFERENCE OF COLORS TO THE CARDINAL POINTS.
_South_ --_East_ --_North_ --_West._
Gemelli -- Blue -- Red -- Yellow -- Green.
Duran -- Blue -- Green -- Red -- Yellow.
Charencey[40] -- Red -- Yellow -- Black -- White.
Schultz-Sellack -- Yellow -- Red -- White -- Black.
REFERENCE OF ELEMENTS TO THE CARDINAL POINTS.
_South_--_East_ --_North_ --_West._
Gemelli -- Earth -- Water -- Air[41] -- Fire.
Boturini -- Fire -- Earth -- Air -- Water.
Schultz-Sellack -- Air -- Fire -- Water -- Earth.
Chavero -- Earth -- Water -- Fire -- Air.
REFERENCE OF THE ELEMENTS TO THE YEARS.
_Tochtli_--_Acatl_--_Tecpatl_--_Calli_
Veytia -- Air -- Water -- Fire -- Earth.
Gemelli -- Earth -- Water -- Air -- Fire.
Boturini -- Air -- Water -- Fire -- Earth.
Chavero -- Earth -- Water -- Fire -- Air.
Orozco y Berra -- Air -- Water -- Fire -- Earth.
As will be seen from this list, there is entire uniformity in the
assignment of the years or year symbols to the cardinal points, with the
single exception of Boturini. As this author's views in regard to the
calendar are so radically different from all other authorities as to
induce the belief that it applies to some other than the Aztec or true
Mexican calendar we will probably be justified in eliminating his
opinion from the discussion.
Omitting this author, we have entire uniformity among the authorities
named in regard to the reference of the years to the cardinal points, as
follows:
_Tochtli_ to the _south_; _Acatl_ to the _east_; _Tecpatl_ to the
_north_, and _Calli_ to the _west_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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