222 



MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



dye, fine textiles, etc. Very little is preserved concern- 

 ing the traditional history of southern Mexico, but it is 

 presumed that the Zapotecan culture before the Aztecan 

 ascendency was a development of that implanted many 

 centuries before when Monte Alban nourished and 



Fig. 81. The Year Symbol of Southern Mexico. It is combined 

 with the four year bearers, House, Rabbit, Reed, and Stone. In the 

 second detail the day 6 Serpent in the year 12 Rabbit is recorded. 



OOOOOO 



qo OOOq 



o 



ooooo O 



Fig. 82. Year Bearers in the Codex Porfirio Diaz ascribed to the 

 Cuicatecan tribe: Wind, Deer, Herb, and Movement. 



which we have already examined. As for the Mix- 

 tecs we only know that they produced pottery of 

 great beauty somewhat similar to that of Cholula. 



Some of the finest pre-Cortesian codices that have 

 come down to us are probably of Zapotecan and Mix- 

 tecan origin although reflecting to some extent the 

 religion of the Aztecs. Several of these have been inter- 

 preted by Doctor Seler in terms of Aztecan religion and 



