THE AZTECS 205 



In Fig. 72 are given a few of the more common 

 syllable pictures. The name of the object represented 

 is cut down by the elimination of tl, te, etc., that form 

 the nominal endings. Thus, the picture of water, atl, 

 becomes the sign for the sound a, that of stone tetl is 

 cut down to the syllable te. Several of these syllable 

 pictures are combined to represent a whole word. 



The hieroglyphs of the twenty days of the month 

 (see Fig. 74) are frequently represented, but those of the 

 eighteen months are not nearly so well known. As for 

 the gods, the faces are usually pictured, especially when 

 these are grotesque, but sometimes details of dress or an 

 object connected with a special ceremony is sufficient to 

 recall the divinity. The- Mexican system of numbers 

 was based on twenties. The units were figured by dots, 

 the twenties by flags, the four hundreds by a device like 

 a tree that represented hair, and the eight thousands by 

 the ceremonial pouches in which copal incense was 

 carried. 



Aztecan Religion. The religion of the Aztecs, 

 like that of the Mayas, was a polytheism in which 

 special divinities controlled the powers of nature 

 and the activities of men. The gods were perhaps 

 further advanced towards human form and attri- 

 butes than were those of the earlier culture to the south, 

 but definite characterization was still accomplished by 

 grotesque features and certain animal connections were 

 still evident. The matter is confused beyond the point 

 of analysis. The mythologies often ascribe different 

 origins to the same deity. One god is addressed by 

 many names, descriptive or figurative, that are intended 

 to bring out the various aspects of his power. Over- 

 lapping functions make it impossible to assign each 

 god to his special province. There are universal gods, 



