Tovar Codex, Tlaxochimaco, 9th Month Aztec Calendar

A boy holding a bouquet of flowers in each hand. His face is painted pink. Above his head appears another head with a headdress of green feathers, blue neckpiece, and gold pendants. Next to it is a figure holding stalks of leaves. This month, identified as August, is called Tlaxochimaco (Bestowal of Flowers). This month was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war whose attribute was the sky-blue color of the neckpiece, and the head in this image may be his. 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

12696115

Media ID

47670538

Size

3239px x 4350px (2.0MB)

Credit

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