Tovar Codex, Toxcatl, 5th Month Aztec Calendar

An instrument consisting of a staff wrapped with painted papers surmounted with a wheel. A large paper knot binds the top. At the right is a symbol of a striped face with white feathers on the head and a necklace. The month, identified as May, is called Toxcatl (Drought). The patron gods of this month were Huitzilopochtli and Tezcatlipoca (the god of the night sky and memory). The instrument shown, a tlachieloni or itlachiaya (viewing instrument), is one of the attributes of Tezcatlipoca, and was believed to serve him as a magic mirror. The striped face is also a symbol of Tezcatlipoca. 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

12696111

Media ID

47670437

Size

3284px x 4275px (2.0MB)

Credit

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