The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations: A Comparative Research Based on a Study of the Ancient Mexican Religious, Sociological, and Calendrical SystemsNuttall, Zelia
Religion
The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations: A Comparative Research Based on a Study of the Ancient Mexican Religious, Sociological, and Calendrical Systems
When carefully analyzed we ultimately find that the surface of the altar
exhibits in the first case two chieftains of equal rank, but respectively
seated on the right and left forelegs of the tribal totem. To my idea this
demonstrates that the dual rulership, such as existed elsewhere, prevailed
at Copan, and that two lords of the alligator tribe were entitled the
right and left forelegs or “arms” of the animal totem. It should be noted
here that the Maya name for alligator is chiuan or ain. The dictionaries
contain also the following names for the same or allied species:
Sea-lizard, alligator (?), ixbaan; lizard in general=ix-mech, or mech,
ix-be-bech, ixzeluoh and ix-tulub. Obviously occupying positions of less
honor there are 2×2=4 chiefs of equal rank but seated, respectively, on
the right and left hind legs of the totem. These again are evidently
equivalent to the four sub-rulers of Mexico and Yucatan, the Maya Bacabs
or Chacs.
Lastly, the twenty different figures, connected with particular glyphs,
are equivalent to the division of the tribe into as many portions, minus
the head. The eight glyphs associated with this added to the twelve
glyph-figures, complete the numeric organization into twenty. From this
monument, the sides of which were probably painted, originally, in four
colors, it would seem that the alligator clan, ruled by two chiefs and
four lesser rulers, was organized into twelve divisions of people and
eight classes of another kind. A circular tablet at Quirigua, which I
shall describe further on, exhibits a subdivision into 2×6=12+5+3=20.
It is not necessary to emphasize how remarkably the Copan altar conforms
to the Zuñi method of clan-organization. It suffices for my present
purpose merely to establish the community of thought which existed
throughout, but which found its highest artistic expression and
development in Central America.
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