Tōnalpōhualli

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Codex Magliabechiano, showing four day-symbols of the tōnalpōhualli: (ce = one) Flint/Knife tecpatl, (ōme = two) Rain quiahuitl, (ēyi = three) Flower xōchitl, and (nāhui = four) Caiman/Crocodile (cipactli
), with Spanish descriptions.
Above is the Codex Telleriano-Remensis: Folio 10r annotated to identify the day signs (Tonalpohualli) and counts on the page. This page includes the later half of a Trecna, starting with 6 grass (6 Malinalli) and ending with 13 rain (13 Quiyahuitl). The Trecna progresses from the second row and the first column and continues to the right. Once it is five columns in the order it progresses downward until the fifth column and fifth row. The Codex Telleriano-Remensis was produced in the sixteenth century with European influence and supplies.
Above is the Codex Borbonicus Folio 13 with annotations to highlight the day signs (Tonalpohualli) within the Trecena which is shown on the page. The Trecena begins at the bottom leftmost corner with 1 movement (1 Olin) and continues through the full 13 day cycle until 13 water (13 Atl) at the top box on the inner column. Each day sign is paired with their respective deity, for example 2 flint is presented by Chalchiuhtotolin.

The tōnalpōhualli (Nahuatl pronunciation:

pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. This calendar is solar and consists of 20 13-day (trecena) periods. Each trecena is ruled by a different deity. Graphic representations for the twenty day names have existed among certain ethnic, linguistic, or archaeologically identified peoples.[1]

Description

Tonalpōhualli calendar representation

The term for the Aztec day signs, tōnalpōhualli, comes from the root word Tona which means to give light or heat.[2] Tōnalpōhualli refers to the count of the days, made up of 20 day signs and a 260 day cycle. In Aztec society there were multiple intertwining calendars, the tōnalpōhualli, and the xiuhpōhualli which refers to the solar year of 365 days. The xiuhpōhualli was divided into eighteen twenty day months, and then an extra five days at the end of the cycle. Each day denoted by a different day sign and number, the double calendars were intertwined so that every 52 years the same combination of day signs and numbers would appear again.[2] The full tōnalpōhualli cycle would take place over 260 days and since each day was unique in number and symbol each had its own intrinsic meaning.[3] It is likely that the root of these units comes from the human body: the Aztecs would count using all digits on their body consisting of the 20 day signs.[4] The 260 cycle likely originated from womans’ gestational cycle, as from the time of the first missed menstruation cycle to the time of giving birth is roughly 260 days.[4]

The tōnalpōhualli as aforementioned consists of twenty different day signs or

Omacatl.[7] The larger rituals would be on the first half of the 13 day cycles, but other important religious activities were done on specific Tonalpohualli days.[4] For instance, the feast of the sun was held on four movement.[4] Most things in day to day life were dependent on the correlating tōnalpōhualli—even given name. When born, formal names would be the day you were born; for example, 5 lizard (Cuetzpalin), and this would determine the child’s destiny.[4]
Furthermore, marriages were dependent on the compatibility of the couple’s day signs and numbers.

Day signs]

Trecena Glyph[8] Spirit Cardinal point
1 1 Cipactli (Caiman or aquatic monster) Tōnacātēcuhtli East
2 1 Ehēcatl (Wind) Quetzalcoatl North
3 1 Calli (House) Tepēyōllōtl West
4 1 Cuetzpalin (Lizard) Huēhuecoyōtl South
5 1 Cōātl (Snake) Chalchiuhtlicue East
6 1 Miquiztli (Death)
Tecuciztecatl
North
7 1 Mazātl (Deer)
Tlāloc
West
8 1 Tōchtli (Rabbit) Mayahuel South
9 1 Ātl (Water) Xiuhtecuhtli East
10 1 Itzcuintli (Dog) Mictlāntēcutli North
11 1 Ozomahtli (Monkey)
Xochipilli
West
12 1 Malīnalli (Grass) Patecatl South
13 1 Ācatl (Reed) Tezcatlipōca East
14 1 Ocēlōtl (Ocelot or Jaguar) Tlazōlteōtl North
15 1 Cuāuhtli (Eagle) Xīpe Totēc West
16 1 Cōzcacuāuhtli (Vulture)
Itzpapalotl
South
17 1
Olīn
(Movement or Earthquake)
Xolotl East
18 1 Tecpatl (Flint or Knife) Chalchiuhtotolin North
19 1 Quiyahuitl (Rain) Tōnatiuh West
20 1 Xōchitl (Flower) Xōchiquetzal South

Gallery of day signs

Note that the symbols are arranged counterclockwise around the calendar stone.

  • Flower, Rain, Flint, Earthquake
    Flower, Rain, Flint, Earthquake
  • Vulture, Eagle, Jaguar
    Vulture, Eagle, Jaguar
  • Reed, Grass, Monkey, Dog
    Reed, Grass, Monkey, Dog
  • Water, Rabbit, Deer
    Water, Rabbit, Deer
  • Death, Snake, Lizard
    Death, Snake, Lizard
  • House, Wind, Alligator
    House, Wind, Alligator

See also

References

  1. ^ Macri, Martha J. "Day-Signs." In David Carrasco (ed). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures. : Oxford University Press, 2001
  2. ^
    JSTOR 1462338
    .
  3. ^ a b "The Aztec Calendar Systems". rubens.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  4. ^
    S2CID 240129657
    , retrieved 2023-04-21
  5. ^ .
  6. , retrieved 2023-04-21
  7. .
  8. ^ The glyphs shown are taken from the Codex Magliabechiano

External links