Animal Figures in the Maya Codices Part 1

Animal Figures in the Maya Codices.

by Alfred M. Tozzer and Glover M. Allen.

NOTE

It has been thought desirable, for the advancement of the study of Maya hieroglyphs, that the interpretation of the conventionalized animal figures, which so frequently occur in the Maya codices, should be undertaken. The Peabody Museum Committee on Central American Research therefore requested Dr. A. M. Tozzer to prepare a paper on the subject, and to secure the valuable cooperation of Dr. Glover M. Allen, a zoologist familiar with the animals of Mexico and Central America, to aid in the identification of the various species of animals which under varying forms are used in connection with the glyphs.

While it is possible that some of the determinations given in this paper may require further confirmation, it is evident that the combined studies of Dr. Tozzer and Dr. Allen cannot fail to be useful to students of the Maya hieroglyphic writing.

F. W. PUTNAM.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY, August, 1909.

INTRODUCTION.

The various peoples inhabiting Mexico and Central America in early pre-Columbian times were accustomed to record various events, especially in regard to their calendar and the religious ceremonials in relation to it, on long strips of skin or bark. These were usually painted on both sides and folded together like a screen. Several of these codices are still in existence from the Nahua and Zapotec areas in Mexico, but only three have come down to us from the Maya region which is included in the peninsula of Yucatan, the states of Tabasco and Chiapas in Mexico, and portions of Guatemala and Honduras. These three ma.n.u.scripts are the Dresden Codex in the Royal Public Library at Dresden, the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (formerly considered to have been two, the Troano and the Cortesia.n.u.s) in the National Archaeological Museum at Madrid, and the Peresia.n.u.s in the National Library at Paris. These pre-Columbian ma.n.u.scripts have all been published in facsimile. (See bibliography.)

These remains of a once extensive literature show evidence not only of considerable intellectual attainments on the part of their authors but also of a high degree of artistic skill in the drawings and hieroglyphics. The frequent occurrence in these ma.n.u.scripts of representations of animals showing various degrees of elaboration and conventionalization has led us to undertake the task of identifying these figures as far as possible and studying the uses and significance of the several species, a field practically untouched.[284-*]

Forstemann in his various commentaries on the Maya codices (1902, 1903, 1906), Brinton (1895), and deRosny[TN-3] (1876) have only commented briefly upon this side of the study of the ma.n.u.scripts. Seler (1904a) and some others have written short papers on special animals. During the preparation of this paper there has appeared a brief account by Stempell (1908) of the animals in the Maya codices. The author has, however, omitted a number of species and, as we believe, misidentified others. In making our identifications we have given the reasons for our determinations in some detail and have stated the characteristics employed to denote the several species.

We have not limited ourselves entirely to the Maya ma.n.u.scripts as we have drawn upon the vast amount of material available in the stone carvings, the stucco figures, and the frescoes found throughout the Maya area. This material has by no means been exhausted in the present paper.

In addition to the figures from the Maya codices and a comparatively few from other sources in the Maya region, we have introduced for comparison in a number of cases figures from a few of the ancient ma.n.u.scripts of the Nahuas and the Zapotecs to the north. The calendar of these two peoples is fundamentally the same as that of the Mayas. The year is made up in the same way being composed of eighteen months of twenty days each with five days additional at the end of the year. There is therefore a more or less close connection as regards subject matter in all the pre-Columbian codices of Mexico and Central America but the manner of presentation differs among the different peoples of this region.

FOOTNOTES:

[284-*] The first two parts of Dr. Seler's Treatise, "Die Tierbilder der mexikanischen und der Maya-Handschriften" published in the _Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie_, Vol. 41, have appeared during the time when this paper was pa.s.sing through the press. The most excellent and exhaustive treatment by Dr. Seler would seem to render the present paper unnecessary. It has seemed best, however, to continue with its publication inasmuch as its field is narrower and more s.p.a.ce is devoted to the Maya side of the question to the exclusion of the Mexican. Dr.

Seler, on the other hand, while by no means neglecting the Maya, has spent more time in explaining the Mexican figures.

I

SYNOPTIC CONSIDERATION OF THE MEANING AND OCCURRENCE OF ANIMAL FORMS

Before taking up the different animals in the codices it may be well to consider some of the more common ways in which the figures occur and their connection with the surrounding figures.

MANNER OF REPRESENTATION. The entire body of the animal may be represented realistically or the head alone may be shown. The animal head is frequently attached to a human body. The animal may appear conventionalized to a greater or less extent and the head in turn may change in the same way until only a single characteristic of the animal remains by which to identify it as, for example, the spots of the jaguar or the feathering around the eye of the macaw. In the case of the glyphs, a term employed to designate the regular and usually square characters appearing in lines or columns throughout the codices and inscriptions, we find both the realistic drawing and that where conventionalism has come in.

THE TONALAMATL. The Maya codices are made up, for the most part, of the records of the sacred period of two hundred and sixty days, a period called in Nahuatl, _tonalamatl_, and other numerical calculations. The _tonalamatl_ was used for purposes of divination in order to find out whether good or bad fortune was in store for an individual. It is not necessary at this place to go into the different means taken to record this period of time or its methods of use. It may be well, however, to explain the usual distribution of the pictures in the codices, including those of animals, in connection with the representation of the _tonalamatl_. A normal period is shown in Dresden 6c-7c. A column of five day signs occurs in the middle of 6c with a single red dot over it.

To the right of this column stretches a horizontal line of numbers consisting of alternate groups of black and red lines and dots. Under each pair of red and black numbers there is usually a human form and over each pair a group of four glyphs belonging to the figure below.

Sch.e.l.lhas (1904) has cla.s.sified the various figures of G.o.ds appearing in these vignettes of the _tonalamatl_ and lettered them. References throughout the paper will be made to the G.o.ds by letters and the reader is referred to Sch.e.l.lhas' paper. Animal figures often take the place of these G.o.ds as in the second picture in Dresden 7c where the screech owl is shown with human body. The greater number of animal figures in the codices occur in some connection with these _tonalamatls_.

MYTHOLOGICAL ANIMALS. Where figures are shown with human body and animal head standing alone in the place usually occupied by one of the various deities in the _tonalamatl_, there can be little doubt that they have a mythological meaning and are to be taken, either as G.o.ds themselves, or as representing certain of the G.o.ds. All of the animals are by no means shown in this position. The screech owl, or Moan bird (as in Dresden 10a) appears most frequently in this way. The king vulture (Dresden 8a), the dog (Dresden 7a), and the parrot (Dresden 40b) come next in descending importance. The animals represented as copulating (as in Dresden 13c) might also be considered as mythological animals as well as the full drawings of the jaguar (Dresden 8a) and the other animals when they occur alone in the regular vignette of the _tonalamatl_. The four priests in Dresden 25a-28a should also be regarded as representing, in all probability, the dog as a mythological animal. The idea of worshipping animals as G.o.ds in themselves is strengthened by noting the ease with which the Maya people worshipped the horse which was left behind by Cortes in his march from Mexico across to Honduras (Villagutierre, 1701, pp. 100-101).

ASTRONOMICAL IDEAS. Animals frequently have a part to play in relation to the constellations. Throughout the codices and, to a less degree, in the stone carvings, we find what have usually been considered to be glyphs for several of the constellations. Numerous calculations in the codices make it clear that the Mayas had a good knowledge of astronomy.

These glyphs are usually oblong in shape and three or more are arranged together end to end. We have called these the constellation bands.

Various attempts have been made to identify these signs of the various constellations. Animals frequently are pictured below these bands. The dog with fire brands in his paws and often attached to his tail is shown in several places coming head downward from one of these bands (as in Dresden 36a). The peccary is also shown in the same position although the fire brands do not appear (Dresden 68a). A figure with macaw head occurs once standing beneath one of these bands with fire brands in his hands (Dresden 40b). The serpent (as in Dresden 36a), the lizard-crocodile-like animal in Dresden 74, the turtle (Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 71a), the vulture (Dresden 38b), the turkey (Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 10b), and the deer (Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 47a) all appear in connection with these constellation bands. It is impossible at this time to decide upon the part these various animals play in relation to distinct constellations.

In addition to the animals named, several of the G.o.ds, especially G.o.d B, are found below these bands. One of these signs, the one identified by Forstemann as standing for Saturn, is composed of the head of the crocodile more or less conventionalized.

Forstemann (1902, p. 27) identifies the turtle with the summer solstice and the snail as the animal a.s.sociated with the winter solstice. There does not seem to be any one animal used in connection with any one of the cardinal points. In Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 88c the dog seems to be a.s.sociated with the north as shown by the glyph which is ordinarily regarded as connected with that direction, the ape with the west, and an unidentifiable bird sitting on a _Cimi_ (death) sign with the south. The east is connected in this place with a human figure. It should be stated, however, that it is not absolutely certain that the usual a.s.signment of the cardinal points, each to its special direction, is correct. The signs for the east and west as well as those for the north and south may be reversed. With the exception of the a.s.signment of the offering-glyphs to the various cardinal points which will be discussed later (p. 290) this is almost the only case where a clear relation can be made out between the various animals and the signs for the four directions. There is no definite relation as is seen, for example, in the Vatica.n.u.s 3773, 17, 18 where the quetzal is noted perched on the tree of the east, the eagle on that of the north, the humming bird on that of the west, and the jaguar on the tree of the south.

COPULATION. The conception, the period of pregnancy, the infant baptism, and possibly, the naming of children are shown in both the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (91-95) and the Dresden (13-23). Animals are frequently shown copulating with various G.o.ds or with one another. In Dresden 13c, the deer and G.o.d M and the vulture and the dog; in 19c, the vulture and a woman; in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 91d, a G.o.d and a woman; and in 92d, an armadillo and a deer both with female figures. These animals probably represent in some way the totems of the man or woman in question and are shown in place of the human figure. The Lacandones, a Maya people, show at the present time the remains of a totemic system (Tozzer, 1907, pp.

40-42). The deer (_Ke_) gens is found at the present time. In the greater number of cases where copulation is shown a G.o.d and a female figure are pictured. The presentation of the new-born children by women with bird head-dresses, also occurring in this same section of both ma.n.u.scripts, is discussed later (p. 291).

ANIMAL SACRIFICES. Various ceremonials occurring at intervals throughout the Maya year which included sacrifices to the G.o.ds, evidently took up a large part of the time of the people. Animals composed by far the major part of the gifts made to the G.o.ds. This was especially true in regard to the ceremonies occurring at the beginning of each year. According to the Maya calendar there were four days only which could come at the beginning of the year and these came in succession. Landa (1864, pp.

210-233), the first Bishop of Yucatan, gives a minute description of the rites of the four years which were named according to the initial day.

He also relates the manner in which the various animals are employed as offerings in these rites and also in others taking place at the beginning of the various months.[289-*]

The rites which took place at the beginning and the end of the year are shown in Dresden 25-28 and in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 34-37. The dog, the deer, and the turkey are the most important of the animals shown as being offered to the G.o.ds in this connection. It will not be necessary to consider these animals in detail at this place as they are each taken up later.

OFFERINGS SHOWN BY GLYPHS. It is, however, in another connection than that just considered that the animals are shown as offerings far more frequently throughout the Maya ma.n.u.scripts. In the ceremonies of the four years, the animals and birds are, for the most part, represented entire and purely as pictures. Offerings are also shown in the form of glyphs. These may occur in connection with the figures of the G.o.ds or in the lines of hieroglyphs above the pictures. When they are used in the former relation they are usually shown as resting in a bowl or dish (Dresden 35a). It frequently happens that when a G.o.d is making an offering represented by the entire animal or a glyph of the animal in the main picture, there is a corresponding glyph of the offering above in the line of hieroglyphics (Dresden 23b).

The fish, iguana, turkey, deer and possibly the lizard are the usual animals shown as glyphs in this connection. The frigate bird occurs once in the Dresden (35a) and once in the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (34a) as an offering. The dog, curiously enough, does not seem to be represented by an offering-glyph although he has a glyph of his own when appearing in other connections. The iguana and fish are shown entire although drawn very small; the head is the only part usually shown of the turkey and the haunch of venison of the deer. The head and feet of the lizard, as has been noted, may also be shown by a glyph. The turkey and iguana glyphs are very often found with a _Kan_ sign indicating an offering of maize and bread as well as that of the animal. In connection with glyphs showing various offerings of food, there is one which occurs especially in the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (as in 106a). This shows a row of points themselves running to a point over a _Kan_ sign. This, as will be pointed out later (p. 318) may also represent an iguana. The jar containing a representation of the honey comb (as in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 107b) might come in here in the consideration of the offering-glyphs.

In many instances the common offerings shown by glyphs are found a.s.sociated with the signs for the four cardinal points but there does not seem to be any strict uniformity as to the special offering a.s.sociated with each direction. In Dresden 29b, the lizard glyph is found in the same group with the sign commonly a.s.signed to the east, the turkey with the south, the iguana with the west, and the fish with the north while in Dresden 29c, the deer is a.s.sociated with the east, the fish with the south, the iguana with the west, and the turkey with the north. The iguana is usually found with the sign for the west and the fish with that of the south. The others vary greatly in the a.s.signment of the various directions.

Sch.e.l.lhas (1904, p. 17) considers that the fish, the lizard, "the sprouting kernel of maize or (according to Forstemann, parts of a mammal, game)" and a vulture's head are symbols of the four elements.

The head which Sch.e.l.lhas interprets as that of the vulture is certainly the head of a turkey. He remarks that these signs of the four elements appear with G.o.d B in the Dresden ma.n.u.script. Other G.o.ds, as he also notes, are found with these four offering-glyphs. There seems to be a fifth glyph, however, (as in Dresden 29b) which we have interpreted as that of a lizard.

ANIMALS AS RAIN BEARERS. Various animals are a.s.sociated with the rain and water. The serpent is most frequently represented in this connection. Snails, fish, the turtle, and the frog, as well as the lizard-crocodile figure in Dresden 74 are naturally found a.s.sociated with water. The vulture-headed figure in Dresden 38b and the vulture as a bird in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 10a both appear in the rain. The peccary (Dresden 68a), and the turkey (Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 10b) appear a.s.sociated with the rain as well as with the constellation bands. The scorpion (Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 7a) encloses the rain within its legs.

The connection of an old female figure occurring in many places in the codices with the rain will be discussed later (p. 316) when considering the serpent. It remains at this place to comment upon the woman in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 30b from whose b.r.e.a.s.t.s water is flowing. She is represented as having animal figures seated on her two outstretched hands and on her right foot together with another animal at her side.

G.o.d B sits on her left foot. This picture immediately recalls representations in the Mexican codices where the various parts of the body of a G.o.d are a.s.sociated with various day signs, ten of which have animal names. In the Maya picture, a jaguar is shown on the right hand, a peccary on the left, a dog on the right foot, and a rabbit beside the body at her right. The peccary is not represented among the Nahua day signs but the other three are found, namely the _oceolotl_ (jaguar), _itzcuintli_ (dog), and _tochtli_ (rabbit).

ANIMAL HEAD-DRESSES. Animal figures appear perhaps most frequently as head-dresses of the various G.o.ds in the codices. Here, as elsewhere, from all that can be made out, the religious character is uppermost as in addition to being a decoration, they undoubtedly have some religious signification. Birds occur by far most commonly in this connection. Both male and female figures seems to have these head-dresses. The same bird is often found as the head-dress of several different G.o.ds as, for example, the turkey which appears with G.o.ds A, B, C, E, and N. The vulture, on the other hand, when used as a head-dress for male figures, appears exclusively with G.o.d F. The whole bird is seldom represented on the head-dress of the male figures. It is usually only the head and a part of the body of the bird which forms but a portion of the whole head-covering. Landa (1864, p. 148)[292-*] notes the dress of the leader in the rites. He wears a jacket of red feathers worked with other feathers and from it hang long plumes. He also wears a feather head-dress.

Entire birds appear as the sole head-covering only in connection with female figures and then only in one section of the Dresden (16-18) and a parallel pa.s.sage in the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (94-95). In both these places the conception and the bearing of children are shown together with their baptism. The bird above the head of each female figure seems to be a badge of office, possibly the totems which are held by the women and given to the children. The parrot, quetzal, vulture, screech owl and the horned owl appear in this connection. It is to be noted that the birds a.s.sociated with these women are not really represented as head-dresses at all. They are quite different from the head decoration composed of a bird's head and feathers seen in other parts of the ma.n.u.scripts. In the Dresden especially, these birds above the women's heads are shown in almost every case standing with the claws clasping the necklace at the back of the neck. Landa (1864, pp. 144-154) gives an interesting account of the method of baptising children. He also states (p. 304)[292-]

that in the month _Yaxkin_ an old woman brought the little girls to the general feast. This old woman was dressed in a garment of feathers. It was understood that this devoted old woman was not permitted to become intoxicated[293-*] lest she should lose in the road the plume of her office.

The serpent appears as a head-dress exclusively with female figures and then usually when the woman is in the act of offering something or is a.s.sociated with water or rain. The centipede occurs only with G.o.d D.

Quadrupeds are employed as head-dresses only very seldom. The head of a deer is, in three places, used as a part of the head decoration of G.o.d M and the head of a jaguar appears in two places only.

SECULAR OCCUPATIONS. Animals appear frequently in scenes showing various occupations. These, although appearing at first sight as secular, have to do with the religion of the people and they show in every case acts undertaken in behalf of the deities. It is almost exclusively in the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s that these religious-secular occupations are shown.

Hunting scenes occur in one section of this codex (38-49). The whole aim of the hunt in these pages is to obtain animals for sacrifice. In almost every case the various animals are shown as being captured alive, either in a pitfall or a trap of the "jerk-up" type. This was undoubtedly in order that the animal might be killed the moment it was offered to the G.o.ds by having its heart cut out. Deer are most commonly represented in this hunting section although peccaries and armadillos also appear.

Fishing is shown in one place at least (Dresden 33a).

The practice of agriculture is shown in Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s 24-28. The sprouting grain is represented as being eaten by a vulture and a jaguar.

Certain G.o.ds in this section which relates to the planting of maize are shown as being attacked by vultures and blow-flies. Another occupation of the natives depicted in the Tro-Cortesia.n.u.s (103-112) is apiculture.

This, again, has clearly some religious significance. Pottery-making is shown in the same ma.n.u.script (95-101). It is, however, a purely religious ceremony. The renewal of the incense-burners is shown.

Animals occur very infrequently in this section. The quetzal and two vultures are noted seated on top of an oven-like covering under which is the head of G.o.d C, probably representing the idol. There are several other occupations shown in this codex such as weaving (79c) and the gathering of the sap of the rubber tree (102b), but as animals do not occur in any connection with these operations, it is not necessary to dwell upon them.