Numeral systems of Mexico and Central America / by Cyrus Thomas.

  • Cyrus Thomas
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Numeral systems of Mexico and Central America / by Cyrus Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    89/116 page 935
    V)35 The days as represented in the codices when placed in regular succes- sion are as shown in table 1. Table 1 1 Cipactli. 11 Ozomatli. 2 Ehecatl. 12 Maliiialli. 3 Cam. 13 Acatl. 4 Cuetzpallin. 14 Ocelotl. 5 Coatl. 15 Quauhtli. 6 Miquiztli. 16 Cozcac]uauhtli. 7 Mazatl. 17 Ollin. 8 Tochtli. 18 Tecpatl. 9 Atl. 19 Quiahiutl. 10 Itzcuintli. 20 Xochitl. In attempting to form a condensed calendar for the Mexican system difficulties are met with which do not arise in forming one for the Mayan S3stem. There can be no question that the j^ear-bearers or dominical days were Tochtli, the rabbit; Acatl, the reed; Tecpatl, the flint or flint knife, and Calli, the house; but were these the first days of the years? Gemelli Carreri' says that the year Tochtli began with the day Cipactli, Acatl with MiquiztJi, Tecpatl with Ozomatli, and Calli with Cozcaquauhtli, in which he is supported by Clavigero,'^ while Boturini and Veytia declare that they began with the dominical days. As the latter method appears to be the natural one, and is that adopted by Miss Nuttall ® after a somewhat careful examination of the subject, I shall follow it. My condensed calendar will therefore be as shown in table 2. 1 Churchill’s Voyages, vol. iv, p. 492. = Hist. Mexico, Cullen’s Transl., vol. i, p. 292.
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