The
260-Day Tonalpohualli
Most
Mesoamerican societies kept a 260-day ritual calendar that ran concurrently
with a 365-day solar calendar. In Nahaut, the 260-day calendar is referred to
as the tonalpohualli. Each day was identified by its day name and a coefficient
that varied from I-XIII. Both of these cycled continuously. Because 13 and 20
have no common factor, a given day name + coefficient would recur after 260
days.
Almanacs
of the tonalpohualli were frequently arranged in groups of 13 days (trecenas),
such that each group would start with the same coefficient, or by 20s (ventanas),
in which case each group began with the same day name. These were often accompanied
by cycles of deities and birds.
The
basis of the 260 day count is still disputed. Some suggest it approximates the
human gestation period (and people were often named after their birth day),
while others suggest ties to astronomical patterns.
Twenty
Day Names of the 260 Day Tonalpohualli
| 1 |
Cipactli |
Alligator |
|
|
11 |
Ozomatli |
Monkey |
|
| 2 |
Ehecatl |
Wind |
|
12 |
Malinalli |
Grass |
|
| 3 |
Calli |
House |
|
13 |
Acatl |
Reed |
|
| 4 |
Cuetzpallin |
Lizard |
|
14 |
Ocelotl |
Jaguar |
|
| 5 |
Coatl |
Snake |
|
15 |
Cuahtli |
Eagle |
|
| 6 |
Miquiztli |
Death |
|
16 |
Cozcacuauhtli |
Vulture |
 |
| 7 |
Mazatl |
Deer |
|
17 |
Ollin |
Movement |
|
| 8 |
Tochtli |
Rabbit |
|
18 |
Tecpatl |
Flint Knife |
|
| 9 |
Atl |
Water |
|
19 |
Quiahuitl |
Rain |
|
| 10 |
Itzcuintli |
Dog |
|
20 |
Xochitl |
Flower |
|
