AZTEC PICTURE WRITING 37 



ending pan which means over, is expressed by the superposition of the 

 obsidian knife over the plant. 



The hieroglyphs representing personal names are not especially different 

 from those representing places. It might be interesting to examine the 

 names of two or three of the Aztec kings. The second, third and sixth 

 kings of Tenochtitlan of Mexico City were Huitzilihuitl (1396-1417), 

 Chimalpopoca (1417-1427), and Axayacatl (1469-1482). The hieroglyph 

 of the first is the head of a humming bird, huitzilin, with a feather, ihuitl, 

 in its mouth. That of the next ruler is a picture of a smoking shield as the 

 name signifies. The last name is that of a fly that lives on the lake. The 

 translation of the name is " the face of the water." The hieroglyph rep- 

 resents a human face with a stream of water running down over it. 



The day and month signs of the Aztec calendar are well known. For the 

 most part they are heads of animals and birds. The signs that signify 

 numbers are not very numerous. The common articles of commerce are 

 represented by symbols sometimes realistic, sometimes not. The sign for 

 gold occurs in many documents as does that which means chalchihuitl, the 

 sacred green stone. 



Several of the Aztec documents dealing with migrations and conquests 

 of the Aztecs resemble old-fashioned maps, the sequence of events being 

 indicated by a line of footprints leading from one place or scene of action to 

 another. The places or towns in these documents are represented by hiero- 

 glyphs and often the character of the country is indicated by pictures of 

 typical vegetation such as maguey plants for the highlands and palms for 

 the lowlands. The symbol of the beginning day of the year in which took 

 place the foundation of the town — or whatever event is intended to be 

 recorded — is usually placed beside the hieroglyph or picture of the place 

 or event. A hieroglyph with a spear thrust into it signifies conquest. 



Genealogical records resembling our family trees were also in use, as may 

 be seen from an example in the American Museum. In nearly all cases 

 a hieroglyph that represents the name of the individual is placed above 

 him. Other common records had to do with the tribute paid in by vari- 

 ous towns and districts to Mexico City. The so-called "Tribute Roll" 

 of Montezuma is a record of the cities and towns that were under the sway of 

 the Aztecs when the Spaniards arrived on the scene. In this book are shown 

 not only the place name hieroglyphs of the conquered peoples but also the 

 sorts of tributes and the amounts collected. 



The codices dealing with religious matters are more largely pictographic 

 than are the historical records. Ceremonies such as sacrifices are repre- 

 sented by realistic pictures. The so-called " Tonalamail " is one of the most 

 important things represented in the religious codices. This is a sacred 

 period of 260 days, the various subdivisions of which are under the rule of 

 particular gods. 



