Tovar Codex, Ochpaniztli, 11th Month Aztec Calendar

A staff wrapped with strips decorated with chevron marks circled by a knot, surmounted by three brooms. The text describes the month as being one in which womanly tasks were honored by celebrating the mother goddess who swept the house of her son, Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and of war. Next to the staff is a scale. The month, identified as September with the astrological symbol of Virgo, is called Ochpaniztli (Sweeping Away). It was dedicated to the goddess Toci. The cotton strips are called tetuitl and symbolize Toci, Teteo innan, or TlaCaolteotl, all variant names for an earth goddess and moon goddess. 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

12696117

Media ID

47670625

Size

3284px x 4275px (1.9MB)

Credit

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