Tovar Codex, Panquetzaliztli, 15th Month Aztec Calendar

An old man holds a banner decorated with blue stripes and pennants. He wears a necklace of blue beads with gold pendants. Above the man's head is a goat. Identified as December with the astrological symbol of Capricorn, the month is called Panquetzaliztli (Banner Raising). It was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of the sun and war. 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

12696119

Media ID

47670681

Size

3199px x 4425px (2.1MB)

Credit

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