A Tentative Explanation of the Aztec Calendar

Summary

The Aztec calendar system, consisting of two main calendars—the Tonalpohualli (260-day divinatory calendar) and the Xiuhpohualli (365-day solar calendar)—offered a unique approach to timekeeping. The Tonalpohualli was used for rituals and agriculture, while the Xiuhpohualli tracked seasonal changes. These calendars synchronized every 52 years, marking the start of a new cycle celebrated with the New Fire Ceremony. The Aztecs also tracked the Venus Cycle, which influenced agricultural decisions. Unlike the linear Gregorian calendar, the Aztecs viewed time as cyclical, reflecting their deep cultural and spiritual connection to the cosmos.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, is used worldwide and consists of 365 days divided into 12 months with 28 to 31 days, with a leap year every four years.
• 😀 The Aztecs, known as the Mexica, had two distinct calendars, each serving different purposes. One was for divination, while the other was used for tracking the solar year.
• 😀 The Tonalpohualli, a 260-day divination calendar, helped priests determine auspicious days, ideal for various activities such as sacrifices and agricultural work.
• 😀 The Tonalpohualli calendar had 20 day signs, each associated with a deity and a cardinal point, which rotated in a 13-number cycle.
• 😀 The second calendar, the Xiuhpohualli, was a solar calendar consisting of 365 days, divided into 18 months of 20 days, plus an additional 5-day period called the Nemontemi.
• 😀 Researchers debate the exact start date of the Aztec calendar, with some suggesting March 14 and others February 15, but the most reliable version is believed to be from the Florentine Codex.
• 😀 The Aztec year count was cyclical rather than linear, meaning years repeated every 52 years, and this cycle was marked by ceremonial significance.
• 😀 Each Aztec year had one of four names (Tochtli, Acatl, Calli, and Cuauhtli), which were linked to numbers 1-13 in a rotating cycle. The year 2023 corresponds to 11 Ocelt.
• 😀 Every 52 years, the Tonalpohualli and Xiuhpohualli calendars would align, signaling the end of a cycle, celebrated with the 'New Fire' ceremony, which included extinguishing all city fires and lighting a new fire in a temple.
• 😀 The Aztec Venus cycle, known as the 'Citlalpopoca,' tracked the planet Venus over a 584-day period and played a role in agriculture, helping to distinguish seasonal changes in a region with limited seasonal variation.
• 😀 While the Aztec calendar did not predict the end of the world, its cyclical nature led to a recurring celebration of the 'Binding of Years,' which marked the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

Q & A

What is the Gregorian calendar, and when was it introduced?

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used by most of the world today. It was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII and consists of 365 days divided into 12 months, with an extra day added every four years as a leap year to synchronize with the seasonal year.

How many calendars did the Aztecs use, and what were their purposes?

The Aztecs used two main calendars: the Tonalpohualli, a 260-day divinatory calendar, and the Xihuitl (also known as the 'solar' or 'civilian' calendar), a 365-day calendar. Each had specific purposes: the Tonalpohualli for divination and the Xihuitl for agricultural and seasonal events.

What was the Tonalpohualli used for, and how was it structured?

The Tonalpohualli was a 260-day calendar used for divination, where a priest would consult the calendar to determine auspicious days for actions like sacrifices, planting, and harvesting. It had 20 signs, each associated with a deity and a cardinal point, and a sequence of numbers from 1 to 13.

How did the number and sign system work in the Tonalpohualli?

In the Tonalpohualli, there were 20 signs, each associated with a deity and cardinal direction. These signs were paired with a number from 1 to 13, and the numbers cycled from 1 to 13 repeatedly. The signs also cycled, meaning after 13 numbers, the next cycle would start at 1, but with the next sign.

What is the Xihuitl, and how is it different from the Tonalpohualli?

The Xihuitl, also known as the 'sun' or 'civilian' calendar, consisted of 365 days divided into 18 months, each with 20 days. It was used for agricultural and seasonal activities, unlike the Tonalpohualli, which was more focused on divination.

Why does the Xihuitl calendar have 365 days, and what is the significance of the additional 5 days?

The Xihuitl calendar had 365 days, consisting of 18 months of 20 days each, totaling 360 days. The remaining 5 days, called 'nemontemi' (the 'empty days'), were considered unlucky and were used for ritual purposes.

What is the Venus cycle, and how was it used by the Aztecs?

The Venus cycle tracked the movements of the planet Venus, which was an important celestial body for the Aztecs. The cycle lasted 584 days, with Venus returning to the same position in the sky after that time. This cycle helped the Aztecs determine certain agricultural activities, as they only had two seasons, wet and dry.

What was the significance of the 52-year cycle in Aztec timekeeping?

The 52-year cycle was a key aspect of Aztec timekeeping, where the Tonalpohualli and the Xihuitl calendars would synchronize every 52 years. This alignment was seen as a 'binding of years,' culminating in the New Fire ceremony, a major event that involved the extinguishing of all fires and the lighting of a new fire.

What was the New Fire ceremony, and why was it important for the Aztecs?

The New Fire ceremony marked the end of a 52-year cycle and the beginning of a new one. It involved extinguishing all fires in the city, leaving it in darkness, and then lighting a new fire in a significant temple, symbolizing renewal. The ceremony included rituals such as blood sacrifices.

How does the Aztec view of time differ from the modern Western view of time?

The Aztecs viewed time as cyclical, with events and years repeating in cycles. This contrasts with the linear, unending progression of time in the modern Western calendar, where years are counted from a fixed point in history and are never repeated.