The Aztec Calendar

Introduction to the Aztec Calendar The Calendar and the Sun Stone Mistakenly, one often refers to the Sun Stone, or the Stone of Axayacatl, as the Aztec Calendar. This sculpure does depict the 20 daysigns, and even the four era's of Suns that preceeded the current Fifth Sun but is was not used as a calendar. Instead it was used as a sacrifical altar. So, what actually is the Aztec calendar?

Not just one calendar There is not just one Aztec calendar, there are two more or less independent systems. One calendar, called the xiuhpohualli, has 365 days. It describes the days and rituals related to the seasons, and therefor might be called the agricultural year or the solar year. The other calendar has 260 days. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, it is called the tonalpohualli or, the day-count. Most information on this Internet-site refers to the tonalpohualli, which is the sacred calendar.

The tonalpohualli and Aztec cosmology The tonalpohualli, or day-count, has been called a sacred calendar because its main purpose is that of a divinatory tool. It divides the days and rituals between the gods. For the Aztec mind this is extremely important. Without it the world would soon come to an end. According to Aztec cosmology, the universe is in a very delicate equilibrium. Opposing divine forces are competing for power. This equilibrium is in constant danger of being disrupted by shifting powers of the gods, of the elemental forces that influence our lifes. This struggle cannot be won by any god. The notion that everything ultimately consists of two opposing forces is essential to the Aztec worldview. The world is always on the brink of going under in a spiritual war, a war of gods competing for supreme power. To prevent this from happening, the gods have been given their own space, their own time, their own social groups, etcetera, to rule over. The tonalpohualli tells us how time is divided among the gods.

The system of the tonalpohualli The system of the tonalpohualli can be best understood by imagining two wheels that are connected to each other. One wheel has the numbers "one" to "thirteen" written on it. The second wheel has twenty symbols on it. In the initial situation, number "one" combines with the first symbol. This is the first day of the tonalpohualli. Now the wheels start moving and number "two" combines with the second glyph. This is the second day. After fourteen days, an Aztec week (trecena in Spanish) of thirteen days has

passed. The wheel with the numbers shows number "one" again. The other wheel now shows the fourteenth symbol. After 260 days, the two wheels have returned to their initial position. The tonalpohualli starts all over again.

Dividing time among gods A day (tonalli) in the tonalpohualli consists of a number and a symbol or daysign. Each daysign is dedicated to a god. The twenty dayssigns and their gods are successively: Nr. Daysign God 1 Cipactli Tonacatecuhtli 2 Ehecatl Quetzalcoatl 3 Calli Tepeyollotl Cuetzpalin 4 Huehuecoyotl

Nr. Daysign 11 Ozomahtli 12 Malinalli 13 Acatl

God Xochipili Patecatl Tezcatlipoca

14 Ocelotl

Tlazolteotl

5 Coatl

Chalchihuitlicue 15 Cuauhtli Xipe Totec Cozcacuauhtli 6 Miquiztli Tecciztecatl 16 Itzpapalotl 7 8 9 10

Mazatl Tochtli Atl Itzcuintli

Tlaloc Mayahuel Xiuhtecuhtli Mictlantecuhtli

17 18 19 20

Ollin Tecpatl Quiahuitl Xochitl

Xolotl Chalchihuihtotolin Tonatiuh Xochiquetzal

Each daysign is ruled by a god. The nature of a day is also influenced by its number. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

(Nahuatl) God Ce Xiuhtecuhtli Ome Tlaltecuhtli Yei Chalchihuitlicue Nahui Tonatiuh Mahcuilli Tlazolteotl Chicuacen Mictlantecuhtli Chicome Centeotl Chicuei Tlaloc Chicunahui Quetzalcoatl Mahtlactli Tezcatlipoca Mahtlactli-once Chalmecatecuhtli Mahtlactli-omome Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli Mahtlactli-omei Citlalicue

More important, each trecenas has a god that rules over that very 13-day period. The twenty trecenas and their associated gods or elemental forces are successively: Nr. Trecenas God 1 Cipactli Ometeotl 2 Ocelotl Quetzalcoatl

Nr. Trecenas 11 Ozomahtli 12 Cuetzpalin

God Patecatl Itzlacoliuhqui

3 Mazatl 4 Xochitl 5 Acatl

Tepeyollotl 13 Ollin Tlazolteotl Huehuecoyotl 14 Itzcuintli Xipe Totec Chalchihuitlicue 15 Calli Itzpapalotl Cozcacuauhtli 6 Miquiztli Tonatiuh 16 Xolotl 7

Quiahuitl

Tlaloc

8 Malinalli Mayahuel 9 Coatl Xiuhtecuhtli 10 Tecpatl Mictlantecuhtli

17 Atl

Chalchihuihtotolin

18 Ehecatl 19 Cuauhtli 20 Tochtli

Chantico Xochiquetzal Xiuhtecuhtli

The xiuhpohualli The 365-day year or xihuitl consists of 18 months (meztli) of 20 days plus five extra (unlucky) days. The last day of the last month of the year gives its (tonalpohualli-) name to the xihuitl. This name is the "Xihuitl" information that is displayed by the calendar. A simple calculation learns that only four daysigns can "bear" (i.e. give their name to) the year. These are Calli, Tochtli, Acatl and Tecpatl for the Aztec calendar. A similar calculation tells us that the number of the xihuitl is raised every year. So year 1-Calli is followed by 2-Tochtli, etcetera. This means that every 52 years (4 times 13) the name of the year will be the same. A combination of 52 years is called a calendar round or xiuhmolpilli (bundle).

Daysign Cipactli The protector of the day Cipactli (Crocodile) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tonacatecuhtli, Lord of Nurturance, the primordial god of creation and fertility. Cipactli is an auspicious day, signifying advancement and honor. It depicts energy and work, rewards and recognition. A good day for beginnings.

Daysign Ehecatl The protector of day Ehecatl (Wind) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Quetzalcoatl. Ehecatl is a bad day for working with others. Its influences are inconstant and vain. A good day to root out bad habits.

Daysign Calli The protector of day Calli (House) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tepeyollotl, Heart of the Mountain. Calli is a good day for rest, tranquility and family life. Not a good day for participating in public life. Best spent cementing relationships of trust and mutual interests.

Daysign Cuetzpalin The protector of day Cuetzpalin (Lizard) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Huehuecoyotl, Old Coyote, the Trickster, god of deception. Cuetzpallin signifies rapid reversals of fortune. It is a good day to work on your reputation through actions, not words.

Daysign Coatl The protector of day Coatl (Snake) and provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Chalchihuitlicue. Coatl is the day of the snaking river that always changes without changing. It signifies the fleeting moment of eternal water. A good day for humility, a bad day for acting on self-interests.

Daysign Miquiztli

The protector of day Miquiztli (Death) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tecciztecatl, god of the conch, symbol of Metztli, the Moon God, sometimes identified with Tezcatlipoca. He has the conch as an attribute, which is associated with the feminine. Miquiztli is the the Unknown, that which emanates shadow. It is a good day

for reflecting on your priorities in life, a bad day for ignoring possibilities. It is a day of transformation, signifying that briefest moment between old endings and new beginnings.

Daysign Mazatl The protector of day Mazatl (Deer) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tlaloc, He Who Makes Seeds Sprout, god of rain and thunderstorms. Mazatl is the day of the hunt. It is a good day to stalk your quarry, a bad day to be stalked. Mazatl is a day for breaking old routines and to pay close attention to the routines of others. This is a day for doubling-back on your tracks.

Daysign Tochtli The protector of day Tochtli (Rabbit) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Mayahuel, goddess of the Maguey and of Fertility, a pulque goddess. Tochtli is a day of self-sacrifice and service to something greater than oneself. It signifies the religious attitude which holds everything sacred and results in experiences of self-transcendence. It is a mystical day, associated by the passages of the moon. It is a good day for communing with nature and spirit, a bad day for acting against others.

Daysign Atl The protector of day Atl (Water) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Xiuhtecuhtli, Lord of the Year, the old god of fire. Atl is a day for purification by subjecting oneself to the ordeal of conflict. It is a good day for battle, a bad day for rest. Water brings out the scorpion, who must sting its enemies or else sting itself. Atl is the day of the holy war, which is always a battle with one's own enemies within.

Daysign Itzcuintli The protector of day Itzcuintli (Dog) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Mictlantecuhtli, god of death. Itzcuintli is the guide for the dead, the spirit world's link with the living. Itzcuintli is a good day for funerals and wakes and remembering the dead. It is a good day for being trustworthy, a bad day for trusting others of questionable intent.

Daysign Ozomahtli The protector of day Ozomahtli (Monkey) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Xochipili, god of the arts, god of pleasure, feasting, frivolity. Ozomahtli is a day for creating, for play, for celebrating. A good day for lightheartedness, a bad day for seriousness. Ozomahtli is a warning about how easily the noble person can be trapped by the lures of public life.

Daysign Malinalli The protector of day Malinalli (Grass) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Patecatl. This day signifies tenacity, rejuvenation, that which cannot be uprooted forever. Malinalli is a day for persevering against all odds and for creating alliances that will survive the test of time. It is a good day for those who are suppressed, a bad day for their suppressors.

Daysign Acatl The protector of day Acatl (Reed) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tezcatlipoca. Acatl is the scepter of authority which is, paradoxically, hollow. It is a day when the arrows of fate fall from the sky like lightningbolts. A good day to seek justice, a bad day to act against others.

Daysign Ocelotl The protector of day Ocelotl (Jaguar) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tlazolteotl. Ocelotl is a good day for doing battle. It signifies power, valor, and reckless abandon in the face of danger. This is a day of the Warriors of Tezcatlipoca, those who willingly sacrifice their lives to keep the flame of the Old Ones burning forever.

Daysign Cuauhtli The protector of day Cuauhtli (Eagle) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Xipe Totec, god of the shedding of skins, God of Seedtime, the elemental force of rebirth. Cuauhtli is a day of fighting for freedom and equality. It is a day of the Warriors of Huitzilopochtli, those who sacrifice their lives willingly to keep the present age, the Fifth Sol, moving. It is a good day for action, a bad day for reflection. A good day for invoking the gods, a bad day for ignoring them.

Daysign Cozcacuauhtli The protector of day Cozcacuauhtli (Vulture) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Itzpapalotl. Cozcacuauhtli signifies long life, wisdom, good counsel and mental equilibrium. It is a good day to confront the discontinuities, disruptions, failures and deaths one suffers in life. Cozcacuauhtli is a day for tricking the Trickster.

Daysign Ollin The protector of day Ollin (Movement) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Xolotl. This is an auspicious day for the active principle, a bad day for the passive principle. Ollin is a day of the purified heart, signifying those moments where human

beings may perceive what they are becoming. A good day for transmutation, which arrives like an earthquake that leaves in its wake the ruins of rationality, order and the preconceived.

Daysign Tecpatl The protector of day Tecpatl (Stone Knife) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Chalchihuihtotolin. Tecpatl is a day of grave ordeals, a day of trials and tribulations. It is a good day to test one's character, a bad day to rest on one's past accomplishments or reputation. Tecpatl warns that the mind, the spirit, must be sharpened like the glass blade which cuts to the marrow of truth.

Daysign Quiahuitl The protector of day Quiahuitl (Rain) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Tonatiuh. Quiahuitl is a day of relying on the unpredictable fortunes of fate. It is a good day for traveling and learning, a bad day for business and planning.

Daysign Xochitl The protector of day Xochitl (Flower) and the provider of the Shadow Soul or Tonalli is Xochiquetzal. Xochitl is a day for creating beauty and truth, especially that which speaks to the heart who knows it will one day cease to beat. Xochitl reminds us that life, like the flower, is beautiful but quickly fades. It is a good day for reflection, companionship and poignancy; it is a bad day for repressing deep-seated wishes, desires and passions.

Gods Tonacatecuhtli

Codex Borgia Tonacatecuhtli, Lord of Our Sustenance, is a primordial creator god, a god of fertility and beginnings. Tonacatecuhtli is the being at the "center" of existence, a place around which everything revolves but where everything is still and at rest. With his wife, Tonacacihuatl, he resides in the uppermost heaven, Omeyocan, "Place of Duality". Tonacatecuhtli is sometimes associated with Ometeotl (Lord of Duality). In the tonalpohualli, Tonacatecuhtli rules over day Cipactli (crocodile).

Quetzalcoatl Codex Borbonicus

The god Quetzalcoatl, is the Feathered Serpent or Precious Twin. He is the god intelligence and self-reflection, a patron of priests. Quetzalcoatl is a primordial god of creation, a giver of life. With his opposite Tezcatlipoca he created the world. Quetzalcoatl is also called White Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to the black Tezcatlipoca. As the Lord of the East he is associated with the morning star, his twin brother Xolotl was the evening star (Venus). As the morning star he was known by the name Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, "lord of the star of the dawn." An other representation of Quetzalcoatl is Ehecatl, the Wind God. His calendrical name is Ce Acatl (One Reed). After the last world, the Fourth Sun had been destroyed, Quetzalcoatl went to Mictlan, the land of the death, and created our current world, the Fifth Sun, by using his own blood to give new life to bones. Quetzalcoatl is also the giver of maize (corn) to mankind. In the tonalpohualli, Quetzalcoatl rules over both the second day, Ehecatl (wind), and the second trecena, 1-Ocelotl (jaguar). He is Lord of the Day for days with number 9 ("chicunahui" in Nahuatl).

Tepeyollotl Codex Borgia

Tepeyollotl, Heart of the Mountain, the Jaguar of Night, lord of the animals, darkened caves, echoes and earthquakes. Tepeyollotl is a variant of Tezcatlipoca. The spots on his coat represent the stars in the sky. In the calendar, Tepeyollotl rules over both the third day, Calli (house), and the third trecena, 1-Mazatl (deer). He is the Lord of the Night number eight.

Huehuecoyotl Codex Borgia

Huehuecoyotl, the Old Coyote, also known as the Ancient Drum. He is a trickster, capable of reversals and pranks, often cruel ones. Huehuecoyotl is also a god of storytelling, music, dance and merriment. Further, he is the patron of uninhibited sexuality - his partners can be female or male of any species. Huehuecoyotl's tricks are often played on other gods but frequently backfire and cause more trouble for himself than the intended victims. He is a great party-giver, but also

alleged to foment wars between humans to relieve his boredom. He is related to Tezcatlipoca family of gods. Like Tezcatlipoca, he is a frequent shapeshifter, capable of transforming himself into another animal or human at whim and unpredictably. Those who have indications of evil fates from the gods can appeal to Huehuecoyotl to mitigate or reverse their fate. In the tonalpohualli, Huehuecoyotl is both the ruler of the fourth day, Cuetzpalin (lizard), and the fourth trecena, 1-Xochitl (flower).

Chalchiuhtlicue Codex Fejérváry Mayer

Chalchiuhtlicue (also Chalchihuitlicue, Chalciuhtlicue), "She of the Jade Skirt", or "She whose Night-robe of Jewel-stars Whirls Above", Lady of the Maintenance. As Acuecucyoticihuati she is the goddess of oceans, rivers and any other running water, but also a goddess of birth and the patron of women in labor. Chalchiuhtlicue is the wife of Tlaloc, the Rain God, and mother of Tecciztecatl, the Moon god. Chalchiuhtlicue was the ruler over the previous Fourth Sun. This world was destroyed by a flooding. In the tonalpohualli, Chalchiuhtlicue is the protector of both the fifth day, Coatl (snake), and the fifth trecena, 1-Acatl (reed). Chalchiuhtlicue is Lord of the Day for days with number 3 ("yei" in Nahuatl). She is the sixth Lord of the Night.

Tecciztecatl Codex Borgia

Tecciztecatl (or Tecuciztecatl), the Old Moon God, represents the male aspect of the moon. Tecciztecatl is the son of Tlaloc and Chalchihuitlicue. In the beginning of the current world, the gods gathered at Teotihuacan and asked "Who will take on the charge of illuminating the One World?" The beautiful and wealthy Tecciztecatl volunteered. When the moment arrived to complete the necessary rituals by throwing himself into the sacrificial fire, he became scared. The gods passed the opportunity to the sickly and blistered Nanahuatzin. She went and became the sun. Ashamed, Tecciztecatl followed her to become another sun. However, the gods threw a rabbit at him to dim his radiance. This is how the Fifth Sun started and how Tecciztecatl became the moon. Tecciztecatl is often pictured he carrying a large, white seashell, representing the moon. He is also called He is called "he who comes from the land of the sea-slug shell." In the tonalpohualli, Tecciztecatl is the ruler of the sixth day, Miquiztli.

Tlaloc Codex Borgia

Tlaloc, He Who Makes Things Sprout, the god of rain, lightning and thunder. Het is a fertility god, but also a wrathful deity. He is responsible for both floods and droughts. Tlaloc is commonly depicted as a goggle-eyed blue being with jaguar fangs. Often he is presented wearing a net of clouds, a crown of heron feather and foam sandals. He carries rattles to make thunder. Tlaloc was first married to the goddess Xochiquetzal, but then Tezcatlipoca kidnapped her. He later married Chalchihuitlicue. With Chalchihuitlicue he became the father of Tecciztecatl. Tlaloc has an older sister named Huixtocihuatl. He is the ruler of Tlalocan, the fourth heaven. Tlalocan is the place of eternal spring, a paradise of green plants. Tlalocan is the destination in the afterlife for those who died violently from phenomena associated with water, such as by lightning, drowning and water-borne diseases. Tlaloc ruled over the third world, 4 Quiahuitl, the world that was destroyed by a fiery deluge. He is served by various rain spirits called the tlaloque.

In Tenochtitlan, ancient Mexico City, half of the central temple ("Huey Teocalli") was dedicated to Tlaloc. The other half was dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the god of the Mexica. Tlaloc is both the protector of the seventh day, Mazatl (deer) and the seventh trecena, 1Quiahuitl (rain). He is Lord of the Day for days with number 8 ("chicuei" in Nahuatl). Tlaloc is the nineth and last Lord of the Night.

Mayahuel Codex Laud

Mayahuel is the goddess of the maguey plant and of fertility. Protector of mature wombs that turn into life. From the milky sap of the maguey plant, aguamiel, the alcoholic drink pulque (octli in Nahuatl) was brewn. Mayahuel is often depicted with many breasts to feed her many children, the Centzon Totochin (the 400 Rabbits). The Centzon Totochin were thought to cause drunkenness. Mayahuel is the wife of Patecatl, who is also a pulque god. The deity Ome Tochtli (Two Rabbit) represents all pulque gods. The spines of the maguey were used by ancient priests and nobles for autosacrifice. According to myth Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl took Mayahuel from her grandmother and the fearsom star daemons, the Tzitzimime. The Tzitzimime caught her and tore her to pieces. Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl buried her remains from which the first maguey grew. Mayahuel is both the ruler of the eight day, Tochtli (rabbit), and the eight trecena, 1Malinalli (grass).

Xiuhtecuhtli Codex Borgia

Xiuhtecuhtli is the Turquoise Lord, Lord of the Year, god of fire, creator of all life. Xiuhtecuhtli, also called Ixcozauhqui and Huehueteotl, the Old God, is considered "Mother and Father of the Gods, he who stands at the center of the world." He is the personification of light in the darkness, warmth in coldness, food during famine, and life in death. Xiuhtecuhtli is often depicted with a red or yellow face, with a censer on his head. As a patron of kings and warriors he is shown wearing a crown and ornaments made of a Turquoise blue stone. As Huehueteotl, he appears as an elderly man, usually bent over and carrying a brazier, or small stove, on his head. Chalchiuhtlicue is mentioned to be his wife. With Chantico as his feminine counterpart, he is seen as a representation of Ometeotl. His nagual is the Xiuhcoatl, the Fire Serpent. Xiuhtecuhtli is the central deity in the New Fire ceremony, held every 52 years in year 2 Acatl (Ome Acatl, which is also a name for Tezcatlipoca). In the tonalpohualli, Xiuhtecuhtli is the protector of day Atl (water). He rules over the last trecena of the tonalpohualli, 1-Tochtli (rabbit). Xiuhtecuhtli is Lord of the Day for days with number 1 ("ce" in Nahuatl). He is the first Lord of the Night.

Mictlantecuhtli Codex Borgia

Mictlantecuhtli is ruler over Mictlan, the lowest underworld, the northern realm of the dead. Mictlantecuhtli's wife is Mictlancihuatl. He is associated with the spider, the owl and the bat. To create life, Quetzalcoatl needed the bones from those that lived in the previous world, the Fourth Sun. First Mictlantecuhtli agreed but when Quetzalcoatl came to collect the bones Mictlantecuhtli changed his mind. Fortunately, Quetzalcoatl managed to escape. However, on his way back up he dropped some bones and broke some of them. This explains why humans have all different sizes. Mictlantecuhtli is both the ruler of the tenth day, Itzcuintli (dog), and the tenth trecena, 1-Tecpatl (knife). He is Lord of the Day for days with number 6 ("chicuacen" in Nahuatl). He is the fifth Lord of the Night.

Xochipili Codex Borgia

Xochipili, the Flower Prince, is the god of flowers, pleasure, feasting, frivolity and artistic creativity. Xochipili is closely related to Macuilxochitl (Five Flower), who is one of the Ahuiateteo, the gods that embody the dangers of excess. The Ahuiateteo are related to the direction of the south. They share characteristics of Tezcatlipoca. The Ahuiateteo are often paired with the dangerous Cihuateteo. Xochipili rules over the eleventh day of the tonalpohualli, day Ozomahtli (monkey).

Patecatl Codex Borgia

Patecatl is the Lord of the Land of Medicines, a god of healing and fertility. He is the husband of Mayahuel. With Mayahuel, he is the father of the Centzon Totochtin (Four Hundred Rabbits), the divine rabbits, and the gods of drunkenness. Like Mayahuel and the Centzon Totochtin, Patecatl himself is a god of pulque, the alcoholic beverage made from the maguey plant. Patecatl is the protector of the 12th day of the tonalpohuall, day Malinalli (grass).

Tezcatlipoca Codex Borgia

Tezcatlipoca is the Smoking Mirror. He is the god of the nocturnal sky, god of the ancestral memory, god of time and the Lord of the North, the embodiment of change through conflict. Together with his eternal opposite Quetzalcoatl, he created the world. In this process, Tezcatlipoca lost his foot when he used it as bait for the Earth Monster Cipactli. As a god of creation he is known as Ipalnemoani, "He by whom we live". Tezcatlipoca has many aspects. As Tezcatlipoca Yaotl ("Enemy") he is the patron of the warrior, as Tezcatlipoca Telpochtli he stands for eternal youth. Other names are Necocyaotl ("Enemy of Both Sides"), Tloque Nahuaque ("Lord of the Near and Far") and Yohualli Ehecatl (Night Wind), Ome acatl ("Two Reed") and Ilhuicahua Tlalticpaque ("Possessor of the Sky and Earth"). Quetzalcoatl is also called White Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to the black Tezcatlipoca. Tezcatlipoca is usually depicted black with yellow stripe painted across his face. He is often shown with his right foot replaced with an obsidian mirror or a snake. One of his Naguals is the Jaguar, and his Jaguar aspect is the deity Tepeyollotl "Heart of the Mountain". Another Nagual of Tezcatlipoca is Chalchihuihtotolin, the (blood-) Jewelled Fowl. Chalchihuihtotolin is a symbol of powerful sorcery. Tezcatlipoca can tempt humans into self-destruction, but when he takes his turkey form he can also cleanse them of contamination, absolve them of guilt, and overcome their fate. In the tonalpohualli, Tezcatlipoca is the ruler of day Acatl. He is Lord of the Day for days with number 10 ("mahtlactli" in Nahuatl).

Tlazolteotl Codex Laud

Tlazolteotl, "Filth Goddess", a mother-earth goddess. Tlazolteotl is the goddess of the human fertility and of sexuality. Tlazolteotl is associated with the moon. As Tlaelcuani, "the Eater of Filth" she is the goddess of the Ritual Cleansing. She is the mother of Centeotl, a maize god. In her incarnation as Teteoinnan, Mother of the Gods, she is protector of the midwives, doctor women and of those who tell fortune. In the tonalpohualli, Tlazoteotl is the protector of the 14th day, Ocelotl (jaguar), and the 13th trecena, Ollin (movement). She is Lord of the Day for days with number 5 ("mahcuilli" in Nahuatl). She is the seventh Lord of the Night.

Xipe Totec Codex Borgia

Xipe Totec, Our Lord the Flayed One. Xipe Totec is the god of the shedding of skins, God of Seedtime, the elemental force of rebirth. He is associated with rejuvenation and spring time. Xipe Totec flayed himself to give food to humanity, symbolic of the maize seed losing the outer layer of the seed before germination. Xipe Totec is the patron of the goldsmiths. Xipe Totec is also known as the Red Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to the black Tezcatlipoca. In the calendar, Xipe Totec is the protector of day Cuauhtli (eagle) and of the trecena that starts with day 1-Itzcuintli (dog).

Itzpapalotl Codex Borgia

Itzpapalotl is the Obsidian or Clawed Butterfly, the Feminine Warrior. Itzpapalotl is often depicted as a skeletal being with jaguar claws and wings edged by obsidian knifes. She is one of the Tzitzimime, the powerful and dangerous star daemons. With other female deities like the Cihuateteo, Tlaltecuhtli, Coatlicue, Citlalicue and Cihuacoatl, the Tzitzimime are protectors of midwives and women in labor. Itzpapalotl rules over Tamoachan, the heaven where the gods created the human race. Tamoachan is the home for the victims of infant mortality. Here grows the Suckling Tree which bears 400,000 nipples. Here the children can comfortably regain strength for re-incarnation. Itzpapalotl stands for purfication or rejuvenation by sacrifice of that what is precious. In the tonalpohualli, Itzpapalotl rules over day Tecpatl (knife) and over trecena 1-Calli (house).

Xolotl Codex Borgia

Xolotl, the Twin, the Shapeshifter, Venus as the Evening Star, the Lord of the West, Double of Quetzalcoatl. Xolotl is the dog-like deity, often depicted with ragged ears. He is identified with sickness and physical deformity. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel. Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, Land of the Death or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from those who inhabited the previous world (Nahui Atl) to create new life for the present world, Nahui Ollin, the sun of movement. In a sense, this recreation of life is reacted every night when Xolotl guides the sun through the underworld. In the tonalpohualli, Xolotl rules over day Ollin (movement) and over trecena 1Cozcacuauhtli (vulture).

Chalchihuihtotolin Codex Borgia

Chalchihuihtotolin, the Jewelled Fowl, Tezcatlipoca's nagual. Chalchihuihtotolin is a symbol of powerful sorcery. Tezcatlipoca can tempt humans into self-destruction, but when he takes his turkey form he can also cleanse them of contamination, absolve them of guilt, and overcome their fate. In the tonalpohualli, Chalchihuihtotolin rules over day Tecpatl (Stone Knife) and over trecena 1-Atl (Water).

Tonatiuh Stone of Axayacatl, recolored detail

Tonatiuh, the Sun or the Sun God. Symbol of the Fifth World, the present era. According to Aztec Mythology, there have been four historical ages, called Suns - those of earth, wind, fire and water. Each has been destroyed. The present era is that of the Sun of Movement, Ollintonatiuh. It is also known as Nahuiollin or 4-Ollin (Movement). In the famous stone of Axayacatl, as you can see on the left, Tonatiuhs face is embedded in this calendrical sign. The wings of the Ollin symbol show the calendrical signs of the past four eras. Tonatiuhs claws are aspects of the Earth Goddess, Tlaltecuhtli. In the tonalpohualli, Tonatiuh rules over trecena Miquiztli (death). He is Lord of the Day for days with number 4 ("nahui" in Nahuatl).

Xochiquetzal Codex Borgia

Xochiquetzal is Flower Feather, the ever young and pretty goddess of flowers, love, pleasure and beauty. She is a patron of artists. Xochiquetzal represents the sexual power of young women. In this way she is related to the Ahuitateteo and excess. She also resides over childbirth and pregnancy, relating her to mother-goddesses like Toci and Tlazolteotl. Her twin is Xochipili. Her husband was Tlaloc, until Tezcatlipoca kidnapped her and she was forced to marry him. Xochiquetzal is often displayed surrounded by flowers and butterflies, and accompanied by a hummingbird or an ocelotl. In the tonalpohualli, Xochiquetzal rules over the last day, Xochitl (flower) and over trecena 1-Cuauhtli (eagle).