Part 4 (2/2)
On Dres. 29b, 30b, and 31b the symbol shown in plate LXVI, 3, is found in each group of characters. This bears a close resemblance to the symbol for the month _Tzec_, but varies in some important respects, as will be seen by comparison. The appendix, as I am inclined to believe, gives the _ah_, _ha_, or _hal_ sound, and shows that it is a verb or word indicating action. As we find in each group the figure or symbol of a food animal, the whole series may be supposed to relate to feasts, or eating, or the collection of food. This suggestion is strengthened by the fact that the _kan_ or maize symbol is placed in connection with the animal figures. It is possible, therefore, that this character may be correctly rendered by _tziclim_ (_tziclimtah_), ”to distribute, share, divide among many.” As it is followed in each case by a cardinal-point symbol, and the symbol of the double tongued or toothed deity, probably Itzamna, is found in each group, it is probable that the text relates to religious festivals. This interpretation, however, is a mere suggestion or guess, which as yet I am unable to fortify by any other evidence than the resemblance of the main character to the _Tzec_ symbol.
[Ill.u.s.tration: PL. LXVI COPIES OF GLYPHS FROM THE CODICES]
The Nahuatl, Tzental, and Quiche-Cakchiquel names of this day are the ordinary terms in these languages for ”monkey.” Dr Brinton thinks the Maya name, which does not appear to have any signification in this language as a separate word (though _chuenche_ is ”aborao, tuble,” ”a certain tree”), is derived from a Tzental term, _chiu_, which is applied to a particular species of monkey. He and Dr Seler refer to the _chouen_ in a legend of the Popol Vuh, which undoubtedly stands in close relation to _batz_ or ”monkey,” there spoken of as _hunbatz_. As these words in the Quiche myth appear unquestionably to refer to a species of the monkey tribe, or mythical persons under the symbolism of monkeys, the conclusion they reach is probably correct, and justifies the belief that the Maya name should be interpreted ”monkey.”
The origin of the symbol is uncertain, and Dr Seler makes no attempt to explain it. The difference between the simple form with the three teeth only (plate LXVI, 2) and the typical _Chuen_ symbol indicates a difference in the word equivalents, or in the signification if ideographic. It is possible that Bra.s.seur is right in rendering the former by _co_, which signifies ”tooth;” in which case we may be justified in a.s.suming that the additions in the _Chuen_ symbol give the additional phonetic elements in the word. It may be, as supposed by some authors, that it was intended to represent the front view of an open mouth of some animal, as _chi_ is the Maya word for mouth.
THE TWELFTH DAY
Maya, _eb_; Tzental, _euob_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _e_ or _ee_; Zapotec, _pija_; Nahuatl, _mallinalli_ or _itlan_.
There are comparatively few variations in the symbol of this day; some, however, are of sufficient importance to render recognition doubtful but for their presence in the day series. That given by Landa is seen in plate LXVI, 4; the form most usual in the Tro. and Cort. codices is that shown in LXVI, 5; the variations seen in LXVI, 6, 7, 8, are from the Dresden Codex, and that in LXVI, 9, is from the Peresia.n.u.s.
This character occurs very seldom, if ever, except as a day symbol, hence it is presumed to be purely ideographic or pictorial. There is, however, a deity symbol found in the Tro. Codex (plate LXVI, 10) in which we see apparently the chief characteristic of the _eb_ symbol.
Here, however, instead of a dot-bordered tooth, there is a dot-bordered dark stripe which runs downward entirely across the face. This is accompanied usually by the numeral prefix 11. The symbol of the same deity as found in the Dresden Codex is shown in plate LXVI, 11. Here the stripe is reduced to a single broken line. Dr Sch.e.l.lhas contends that he is a Death G.o.d and the equivalent of the Mexican Xipe. That he is a G.o.d of the underworld in the Tro. Codex is apparent from his ornaments and the dotted lines on his body or limbs; yet in two instances--plates 5a and b--he is represented as a traveling merchant. Whether the deity in the Dresden Codex is the same as that of the Tro. Codex is not positively certain, but the presence of the numeral 11 with the symbol, and in some instances the dotted lines on the body of the deity, indicate that the two are identical. Whether this deity glyph bears any relation to the day symbol is, however, doubtful. The only names of Maya deities I find with _buluc_ (”eleven”) as a prefix are Ahbuluc-Balam and Buluc-Ahau (?). The first, which signifies ”He of the Eleven Tigers,”
was one of the idols made at the festival of the new year Cauac. On one of the four plates of the Dresden Codex representing the festivals of the new year (26a) we observe that the image carried by the chac is a tiger-like animal marked with dotted lines. Whether this is to be connected with the deity above mentioned is doubtful. The other name, Buluc-Ahau, mentioned by Landa, is the name of one of the signs of the Katun given in his figure of the cycle, and, although he uses the word ”idol,” does not appear to refer to any particular deity.
In regard to the names of the first three calendars, Dr Seler remarks as follows:
_E_, _ye_ signifies ”the edge,” ”sharpness,” ”the notch;” _eb_, _ebil_, _ebal_, _yebal_, ”a row of notches,” ”flight of steps,”
”stairs.” In Quiche-Cakchiquel _e_ signifies ”the tooth,” ”the edge;” _ee_ is the plural form in Cakchiquel of the word, as _eeb_ of the Quiche; _euob_ is also a plural form in the Tzental, as I think, from a singular _eu-ee_. The name must denote the same thing in all the languages, i. e., ”a row of teeth,” ”flight of steps”--a signification which harmonizes excellently with many Mexican forms of the character [plate LXVI, 12] as well as with the Mezt.i.tlan name of it (_itlan_, ”his tooth”).
Dr Brinton says that ”in Maya _eb_ is the plural of _e_, which means 'points' or 'ends,' like those of pins or thorns, and plainly was intended to designate the broom by reference to its numerous points.
From the same idea, rows of teeth received the same name. The Tzental and Quiche names _e_ and _euob_--the latter a plural--were from the same radical and had the same signification.” He says the Nahuatl and Zapotec names both signify the brush or broom of twisted twigs, or stiff gra.s.s used for cleaning and dusting, and also this gra.s.s itself. Thus he brings the names of the five calendars into harmony. This explanation corresponds with that given by Clavigero of the Mexican term, which he says is the name of a certain plant of which brooms were made.
I am inclined to believe the symbol in this instance is a mere pictograph intended to represent the tip of some lanceolate leaf, the dots denoting the hairs along the edge. The tips of the ”reed gra.s.s,” as shown in the symbolic representation of _Zacatla_ (”Nombres Geograficos”
by Penafiel; plate LXVI, 13), would give precisely the dot-bordered tooth in the symbol. It is to be observed, however, that the Mexican symbol for this day, the usual form of which is shown in LXVI, 14, is essentially different and has joined with the green blades the skeleton underjaw. In some instances, as at _Malinaltepec_ (”Nombres Geograficos”), the entire skull is added. A more elaborate form of the symbol, from the Borgian Codex plate 26, is given in LXVI, 15. Here the skeleton jaw is replaced by the roots of the plant; observe, however, the brush-like projections above. Are we to see in this a.s.sociated death's-head a reference to death, or rather to the earth, a symbolism undoubtedly found in the Tro. Codex? Or must we suppose that behind the name is to be found the signification of the Mezt.i.tlan name _itlan_, from _tlantli_, ”tooth?” Dr Seler remarks that ”it seems to me quite possible that the point surrounded by dots in the character _eb_ is an abbreviation of figure 326” (the prefix to our plate LXIV, 48).[245-1]
THE THIRTEENTH DAY
Maya, _ben_ or _been_; Tzental, _ben_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _ah_; Zapotec, _quii_, _ii_, or _laa_; Nahuatl, _acatl_.
The symbol of this day is subject to but few and, with one or two exceptions, but slight variations. Landa's figure is represented at LXVI, 16, those usual in the codices in LXVI, 17, 18, 19, and an irregular form found in Dres. 10c in symbol 20 of the same plate. When used in combination with other glyphs and otherwise than as a day symbol, the form, though usually typical, is subject occasionally to wide variations, though there is considerable doubt whether the latter are to be considered _ben_ symbols.
Dr Seler contends that the figure originated from the plaited reed or mat, which, if correct, enables us to trace it by gradations to a wholly different figure. But before referring further to these, it is best that the signification of the names should be given, as determined by linguistic evidence.
The Nahuatl name _acatl_ signifies ”reed,” ”cane,” or ”stalk;” and, according to Ximenes and Bra.s.seur, the Quiche-Cakchiquel _ah_ also signifies ”reed,” especially the ”cornstalk” or ”sugar cane.” The Zapotec _quii_ has also the same signification, ”reed,” and Dr Brinton says _laa_ has the same meaning, but Dr Seler says he can not find it with this signification in the lexicons, nor do I find it in any to which I have access. The Maya and Tzental _ben_, however, presents a more serious difficulty in the attempt to bring it into harmony with the others. Dr Seler contents himself with reference to certain words which have _been_ or _ben_ as their root. This root, he says, signifies ”consumed,” and the words to which he refers mean ”to be consumed,” ”to waste away,” ”to fail, be lacking, go away.” This is also the signification to which Dr Brinton refers. ”I find,” he says, ”that in Tzental the dried cornstalk (cana de mais seco) is called _cagh-ben_, and from this I doubt not this day-name in that dialect and the Maya was taken and syncopated. The verb _ben_ or _been_ in Tzental means 'to walk, to go,' but in the above compound the _ben_ is from the Maya stem _benel_, 'to be used up, to be dead.'”
The opinion of Dr Seler, above stated, that the symbol of this day originated from the delineation of the plaited reed or mat, is based on the representation of the mat both in symbols and figures in the Mexican and Maya codices. Some of these are shown in our plate LXVI, 21 to 24.
The first, 21, is from the Mendoza Codex, and is found also in Tro.
20*d. These are undoubtedly intended to denote mats or something of a kindred nature. The same figure is seen on the roofs of temples and houses, one of which is shown in LXVI, 22, from Tro. 10*c. In these instances they appear to indicate the thatching with which the roof is covered. The form is sometimes varied, as in LXVI, 23, from Tro. 10*a.
The symbol which, it is presumed, refers to the mat as seen in Tro.
21*d, is given in LXVI, 24; that representing the house in Tro. 10*c is seen in LXVI, 25; another of a slightly different form, from Tro. 7*c, in LXVI, 20; and another, referring also to a house or to the roof, as Dr Seler supposes, is given in LXVI, 27.
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