Page:Stone of the Sun.djvu/68

 Although differing in some points, our interpretation of the relief is not in complete disaccord with the ideas of the illustrious archaeologist since it is possible to admit that the stone has been as he says, and that the gnomons would give something of the indications that he mentions; it is possible to admit that the Ce técpatl indicates one of the festivals, as well as the first day of the fourth age, the figure near being the acompañado of this day. We differ indeed as to the meaning of the 13-ácatl, which does not fall toward the middle but at the end of the cycle (except when this begins with Ce tochtli, conformably to the Mexican system, which date is not seen on the stone, which bears the Toltec técpatl); we differ at the same time in some other particulars, as the reader will see.

f) The following zone is the one from which we begin to proceed through the field of conjecture, according to the phrase of Don Antonio Peñafiel. It is the circle of the quinaries or numerals distributed in groups of five units. There are in all 260 units of this kind, perfectly counted, but not explained until now.

Chavero and the majority of archaeologists see in these the tonalámatl, sacred reckoning which really consists of just this number of days. But it must not be forgotten that it is distributed in thirteens, and in the zone which we study the thought of making the distribution in groups of five units appears very clear.

In reality it treats of Venus years. The explanation is moreover simple. The period of the planet measures eight solar years, equivalent to five in the Venus calendar, phenomenon unquestionably observed by the natives, as the festival atamalqualiztli proves. In other terms, five synodical movements of Venus, each one of which lasted very near to 584 days, is equivalent to eight years in the solar calendar, knowledge which the aborigines could acquire by observing the march of the planet. This was the origin of the festival which was celebrated every eight years. According to this, the fives represent the five revolutions of the planet which make a set with the solar calendar; to which we add the following: Only five of the twenty-day characters or symbols of the native month were initials of the year in the Venus calendar. The selection then of the groups of five seems perfectly motived, And as the numerals distributed in this form are 260, the indication is of that number of synodical movements of the evening star, that is to say, it treats of 260 Venus years. The number, which also constitutes the basis of the tonalámatl, was sacred, and the period, especially significant, is found in