however. The central figure is the
face of the sun-god. It is decorated in a truly savage style. It has
ear-rings, neck-chain, lip-pendant, feathers, etc. The artist's design
has been to surround this central figure with all the symbols of
time. We notice on each side of the sun a small circle or oval with
hieroglyphics resembling claws. In Mexican traditions these represent
two ancient astrologers who were supposed to have invented the calendar.
According to Nahua traditions of the world, there had been four ages of
the world; at the end of each age, the world was destroyed. Right above
and below the ovals with the claws, we see four squares containing
hieroglyphics.

Each of these squares refers to one of the destructions of the
world. The upper right hand square contains the head of a tiger. This
represents the first destruction of the world, which was by tigers. The
four dots seen, in this square do not refer to a date as they generally
do; it is a sacred number, and constantly reappears in all hieroglyphics
referring to feasts of the sun. To the left of this square, crowded
between it and the pointer, can be seen the hieroglyphic of the day
Tecpatl. The little dot is one, so this day one tecpatl probably refers
to the day in which the feast in reference to this destruction was
celebrated. The second age was terminated by a hurricane. The upper
left hand square containing the hieroglyphic for wind refers to this
destruction. Between this square and the pointer is crowded in the
hieroglyphic of one Calli, referring to the feast in memory of this
destruction. The third destruction of the world was by rain, the lower
left hand square containing the hieroglyphic of rain. Below, not
very distinctly, is the date of this feast, one quiahuitl. The last
destruction was by water, represented by the lower right hand square.
The date of this feast as represented below is seven Ozomatl.<80>

Passing out of this central zone we notice the hieroglyphics for the
days of the month arranged in a circle. The A shaped ray from the head
of the sun indicates where we are to commence to read; and we notice
they must be read from right to left. Resting on this circle of day,
we notice four great pointers not unlike a large capital A. They are
supposed to refer to sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight. Next in order
after the days we notice a circle of little squares, each containing
five dots. Making allowance for the space covered by the