Difference between revisions of "Xihuitl"

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(Shift from 1-Tochtli to 2-Acatl)
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==== Shift from 1-Tochtli to 2-Acatl ====
 
==== Shift from 1-Tochtli to 2-Acatl ====
  
Although Anahuaca cultures recognized 1-Tochtli as the start of the new 52-year cycle, the Mexica changed this starting date to 2-Acatl in either the year 1455 or 1507.  There are two reasons given for this shift in various historical sources.  The first reason is the desire to coincide the new 52-year cycle with 2-Acatl, the birthdate of Huitzilopochtli.  The second reason is the fact that famines took place in 1454 and 1506 which both fall in the year 1-Tochtli.  <ref>Hassig, Ross.  Time, History, and Belief in Aztec and Colonial Mexico.  Pages 84-85.</ref>  A tree ring study conducted in 2004 confirmed that droughts did indeed take place in the years stated above.  <ref>Therrell, Matthew, Stahle, David, Acuna-Soto, Rodolfo.  Aztec Drought and "the Curse of One Rabbit"</ref>
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[[File:1-RabbitFamine.fw.png|thumbnail|right|Folio 32v of the Codex Telleriano-Ramensis showing the dust storms and dead victims during the famine of 1454]]Although Anahuaca cultures recognized 1-Tochtli as the start of the new 52-year cycle, the Mexica changed this starting date to 2-Acatl in either the year 1455 or 1507.  There are two reasons given for this shift in various historical sources.  The first reason is the desire to coincide the new 52-year cycle with 2-Acatl, the birthdate of Huitzilopochtli.  The second reason is the fact that famines took place in 1454 and 1506 which both fall in the year 1-Tochtli.  <ref>Hassig, Ross.  Time, History, and Belief in Aztec and Colonial Mexico.  Pages 84-85.</ref>  A tree ring study conducted in 2004 confirmed that droughts did indeed take place in the years stated above.  <ref>Therrell, Matthew, Stahle, David, Acuna-Soto, Rodolfo.  Aztec Drought and "the Curse of One Rabbit"</ref>
[[File:1-RabbitFamine.fw.png|thumbnail|right|Folio 32v of the Codex Telleriano-Ramensis showing the dust storms and dead victims during the famine of 1454]]
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Revision as of 06:49, 7 July 2014

Literally means year and also turquoise, comet, and herb.

Xihuitl as Year

Universal year bearer sign found throughout Anahuac. Spinden, Herbert Joseph. Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Page 222.

There are four year bearers in the Anahuaca calendar system which vary across cultures. The most common which are found throughout central and southern Mexico in Pre-Cuauhtemoc codices are: tochtli, acatl, tecpatl, and calli. The codex Porfirio Diaz also ascribed the year bearers ehecatl, mazatl, malinalli, and ollin to the Cuicateca. [1] Tochtli is the first year sign and is the year counter of huitztlampa, the south. Acatl is the second year sign and is the year counter of tlauhcampa, the east, direction of the sun. Tecpatl is the third year sign and is the year counter of mictlampa, the north, direction of the land of the dead. Calli is the fourth year sign and is the year counter of Cihuatlampa, the west, the direction where the women dwelt. [2] The year bearers cycle through time with an accompanying number 1-13. 1-tochtli is followed by 2-acatl, 3-tecpatl, and 4-calli until we reach the end of the cycle which is 13 - calli. Upon reaching 13 - calli, 52 years have passed because 13 X 4 = 52. The next cycle then starts on 1-tochtli and a New Fire Ceremony was celebrated throughout Anahuac to bring in the next 52 year cycle.

Shift from 1-Tochtli to 2-Acatl

Folio 32v of the Codex Telleriano-Ramensis showing the dust storms and dead victims during the famine of 1454
Although Anahuaca cultures recognized 1-Tochtli as the start of the new 52-year cycle, the Mexica changed this starting date to 2-Acatl in either the year 1455 or 1507. There are two reasons given for this shift in various historical sources. The first reason is the desire to coincide the new 52-year cycle with 2-Acatl, the birthdate of Huitzilopochtli. The second reason is the fact that famines took place in 1454 and 1506 which both fall in the year 1-Tochtli. [3] A tree ring study conducted in 2004 confirmed that droughts did indeed take place in the years stated above. [4]


  1. Spinden, Herbert Joseph. Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Page 222.
  2. Sahagun, Bernardino. Florentine Codex, Book 7. Page 21.
  3. Hassig, Ross. Time, History, and Belief in Aztec and Colonial Mexico. Pages 84-85.
  4. Therrell, Matthew, Stahle, David, Acuna-Soto, Rodolfo. Aztec Drought and "the Curse of One Rabbit"