Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/140

82 symbol; three of them are exactly alike, and to them the priests are offering the decapitated fowls.

Turning to the plates of the Manuscript we find the question more difficult to solve; first, because there are on each plate (except one) two figures seated on stone symbols; and second, because these figures are wholly different from those in the Codex. I think there can be no doubt that one of each of these pairs represents one of these idols. But which one? The one not seated on the symbol is that at the left of the lower division of Plate XXII. We may therefore assume that the white figure at the right with a sinuous line down the face, and seated on the stone symbol is the idol Kan-u-Uayeyab or Chac-u-Uayeyab; the former, if the ceremonies here shown refer to the commencement of the Kan year, the latter if they refer to the close. As the corresponding figure on Plate XXIII (Cauac year) bears on its head the Kan symbol it most likely represents the former, and that on Plate XXII the latter. The corresponding figure on Plate XXI varies considerably from the other two noticed; still there is sufficient resemblance to induce me to decide that it (the one at the right in the lower division) is the Uayeyab idol—Chac-u-Uayeyab or Zac-u-Uayeyab.

The figures on Plate XX present still greater difficulty, if possible, that on the right being wholly different from the others. As this plate refers to the Ix years we should expect this variation, having found such to be the case on the Codex plates, and would decide at once, notwithstanding this difference, that it represented the Uayeyab idol, were it not for certain facts to be noticed. During the festival of the Ix years one of the images made represented the god Yzamna or Itzamna. Whether this deity was identical with Kukulcan or not is a question in reference to which the authorities are undecided. If we assume they are identical, the beard on the figure at the right would lead us to conclude that it was intended to represent this deity. But, on the other hand, the bird with the protruded tongue seated on the head-dress of the figure at the left is one of the symbols of Quetzalcoatl, the equivalent of Kukulcan. We also observe that the Ara, the sun emblem, is immediately opposite the latter, toward which he is pointing his fingers, which is a well-known symbol of Itzamna. Taking all these facts into consideration, I conclude that the figure to the right is the Uayeyab idol.