THE AZTECS 197 



The day signs of the four previous suns are represented 

 in the rectangular projections of the central Olin symbol 

 beginning at the upper right hand corner and proceeding 

 to the left. They are 4 Ocelotl (jaguar); 4 Ehecatl 

 (wind); 4 Quauhtli (rain); 4 Atl (water), and they 

 refer to destruction, first, by jaguars, second, by a hurri- 

 cane, third, by a volcanic rain of fire, fourth, by a 

 flood. It is claimed by some that the year 13 Acatl 

 (reed) recorded at the top of the monument between 

 the reptile tails refers to the first year of the present sun, 

 but according to others this is the year 1479 in which 

 the sculpture was set up. Unfortunately, we have no 

 record of this event. The fifth sun will end with the 

 day 4 Olin, that is expressed in the central symbol 

 already described. For this reason a fast was held 

 on each recurrence of this day. Outside of the Olin 

 symbol but between its arms are four hieroglyphs of 

 uncertain meaning. Next to this area dealing with 

 the great ages of the world comes a band of the twenty 

 day signs of the Aztecan month. Outside of this band 

 are several others which probably represent in a con- 

 ventionalized manner the rays of the sun and the 

 turquoise and eagle feathers with which the sun disk 

 was believed to be decorated. Finally, outside of all, 

 are two plumed monsters meeting face to face at the 

 bottom of the disk. In each reptile face is seen a 

 human face in profile. These reptiles are probably to 

 be identified as the Xuihcoatl or Fire Serpents. 



Stone of Tizoc. The Sacrificial Stone or Stone of 

 Tizoc is believed to have been carved by order of Tizoc, 

 the war chief who ruled from 1482-1486, as a memorial 

 offering to Mexican arms on the completion of the great 

 temple to the Mexican God of War. The stone was a 

 quauhxicalli , or " eagle bowl." This name was given 



