In describing the god Tezcatlipoca, Pomar states that he was
represented with “a mask with three stripes (_vetas_) of _espejuelo_
(either transparent lamellated gypsum [selenite], or more probably
obsidian), and two of gold, which crossed over the face.”[65] The idol
was fashioned from wood in the figure of a man. _Espejuelo_, he states,
was a kind of shining metal called _tezcapoctli_.
In the invocation to the god Paynal, which has been preserved to us in
the original Mexican tongue by Sahagun, is the strophe, “_yxiuh chimal,
xiuhtica tlatzaqualli chimalli imax mani_,” which has been translated
by Seler, “the blue shield, covered with the turquois mosaic, hangs
from his arm ... he carries the (blue mosaic) shield.”[66] This chapter
was copied by Seler from the manuscript in the Real Palacio, Madrid.
In the reproduction of the pictorial part of the manuscript published
in colors by Troncoso, we find the representation of this deity, in
which the mosaic shield is graphically drawn and painted blue (see our
fig. 70, p. 17). Sahagun (book 1, chap. 2) briefly describes “this god
called Paynal, who was a kind of under-captain of Huitzilopochtli.” He
is said to have been a man adored as a god.
The Anonymous Conqueror affords valuable information regarding the use
of shields. He says:
They use shields of various kinds, made of thick reeds which grow in
that country, interwoven with cotton of double thickness, and they
cover them with precious stones (turquois mosaic-work) and round
plates of gold, which make them so strong that nothing can go through
them, unless from a good crossbow. Some arrows, it is true, pierced
them, but could do no harm. And because some of these shields have
been seen in Spain, I say that they are not of the kind borne in
war, but only those used in the festivals and dances which they are
accustomed to have.[67]
In his chapter devoted to a consideration of “the finery that the lords
used in their dances,” Sahagun mentions “bracelets of mosaic-work made
of turquoises,” and also “masks worked in mosaic, and (having) false
hair such as they now use, and some plumes of gold which came out of
the masks.” He further describes the costumes, as follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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