Tovar Codex, Aztec Ritual Offering Against Drought

Aztec priests carry offerings and walk beside a stream into which are cast decapitated birds. The priests wear necklaces of jade (chalchiuitl), wear their hair tied with three red rings, and carry bags or pouches. One carries a staff and an incense burner with Aztec incense (copal, copalli), another blows a conch shell, and the third wrings the neck of a bird. The decapitated birds were a ritual offering against drought. The symbol of the flowering cactus represents Tenochtitlan. Under Ahuitzotl (reign1486-1502) Mexico suffered from a great drought. The Tovar Codex (16th century) contains detailed information about the rites and ceremonies of the Aztecs. The codex is illustrated with 51 full-page paintings in watercolor. Illustration taken from a 19th century transcript of Juan de Tovar's Historia de la benida de los yndios apoblar a Mexico (the Codex Tovar)

Picture No

12696101

Media ID

47670223

Size

4200px x 3216px (2.6MB)

Credit

LOC/Jay I. Kislak Collection/Science Source/Mary Evans