36 THE: INSCRIPTIONS: AT> COPAN. 
Indeed, decipherment has now proceeded to the point where it may 
possibly be doubted whether history as such was ever recorded on the monu- 
ments. This question, of course, must necessarily remain open until the 
last hieroglyph shall have been deciphered, but certainly the experience of 
the past and present indications of the future tend to strengthen rather than 
dispel such doubts. 
On the other hand, it seems incredible that any people could have erected 
so many monuments and inscribed them so laboriously without recording 
something of their history. Such a condition would be so unique in the 
annals of mankind that, if for no other reason than its isolation, it might well 
be doubted here. In fact, the writer still believes that some residuum of 
history will yet be found after all the calendric glyphs have been deciphered. 
If this should prove to be true, however, it is certain such historical data will 
be confined to very brief allusions to the most important events, perhaps by 
means of highly specialized signs standing for such general ideas as victory, 
defeat, conquest, war, pestilence, famine, birth, death, fruition of crops, trade, 
religious festivals, foundation of cities, and the accession of rulers, and more 
specifically for the names of particular towns, tribes, and individuals. 
Such historical data as these are clearly found in the allied field of the 
Aztec hieroglyphic writing, particularly as it was used in the manuscripts 
or codices. In these texts, by means of specialized characters having just 
such general meanings as the above, much aboriginal history is accurately 
recorded. To begin with, the signs for a large number of Aztec personal and 
place names have been identified. For example, the name-glyphs of the 
nine Aztec tlahtouant,' or rulers, from Acamapichtli, 1376-1395 A. D, down to 
Moctezuma II, 1502-1520 a. pD., are known, as well as the name-glyphs of 
many towns and cities in central Mexico.2. By means of these characters 
and the signs of general meaning just noted, and with the help of a fairly 
accurate chronological system, the Aztec were able to record the principal 
events of their history with considerable precision.® 
In figure 1 is shown the death of the eighth tlahtouani, Ahuitzotl, in the 
year 10 Tochtli (1502 a. p.) and the succession of his nephew, Moctezuma II, 
to the throne, as recorded in several different Aztec manuscripts. 
Figure 1, a, shows this event as set forth in the Codex de Tepechpan.! 
In the center of the circle at the top is seen the head of a rabbit, tochtli, with 
10 small dots around it. This stands for the year 10 Tochtli,® or 1502 of the 
Christian Era. 

‘Literally, “he who speaks” or “the one who speaks” (Seler, 1904, pp. 146, 156). This was the Aztec name 
for ruler or king. The corresponding position among the Maya was called halach vinic, “real or true man” 
(Brinton, 1882, p. 128), both words implying within themselves supreme authority. 
2The second part of the Codex Mendoza sets forth the tribute paid by different cities to the Aztec rulers, the 
signs for the different cities being followed by the amount of tribute paid by each. Pefafiel, in his Nombres 
geograficos de México has collected the signs for many of these place-names. See Penafiel, 1885. 
8The Aztec calendar did not permit of accuracy in dating beyond a period of 52 years, unless an unbroken 
series of the successive 52-year periods was preserved. In other words, any Aztec date could recur fulfilling all the 
necessary conditions imposed by their calendar, after a lapse of 52 years. However, if there are no lacunz the 
record remains accurate indefinitely, indeed until an omission occurs. 
§See Codex (Mapa) de Tepechpan, plate 3. 
5The Aztec named their years after the days with which they began, always one of the following four: Acatl 
(reed), Tochtli (rabbit), Calli (house), and Tecpatl (flint). 
