Animal Figures in the Maya Codices | Page 4

identifies the turtle with the summer solstice
and the snail as the animal associated 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-Cortesianus 88c the dog seems to be
associated 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 assignment 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 assignment 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 Vaticanus 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-Cortesianus (91-95) and the Dresden (13-23). Animals are
frequently shown copulating with various gods or with one another. In
Dresden 13c, the deer and god M and the vulture and the dog; in 19c,
the vulture and a woman; in Tro-Cortesianus 91d, a god 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 god 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 manuscripts, is discussed later (p. 291).
ANIMAL SACRIFICES. Various ceremonials occurring at intervals
throughout the Maya year which included sacrifices to the gods,
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 gods. 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-Cortesianus 34-37. The dog, the
deer, and the turkey are the most important of the animals shown as
being offered to the gods 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 manuscripts. 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 gods 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 god 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-Cortesianus (34a) as an
offering. The