Codex Selden / Codex Añute, c. 1560 (manuscript)

Codex Selden (Codex Añute): Mixtec pictorial manuscript ( ñee ñuhu ), 1556 × 1560s. MS. Arch. Selden. A.2, p. 6. Starting at bottom (continuation of p. 5). Band I (left to right). M 10 Eagle 'Stone Tiger' and F 9 Wind had three sons and a daughter. The first son is depicted on p. 5, band IV. The other sons, named 12 Water 'Eagle-Down' and 3 Water 'Copal Breath', are depicted here. This line further relates that they were sacrificed in a battle that took place on the day 8 Buzzard of the year 9 House (1021), probably in the town of Skull. The war is indicated with a shield, an arrow, and a staff with a mask. In view of the fact that, as will be seen later, the goddess 9 Grass 'Death', from the town of Skull, constantly appears protecting the sister of the sacrified princes, they probably died while defending this town, rather than attacking it. The last person mentioned among the descendents of M 10 Eagle 'Stone Tiger' and F 9 Wind 'Flint Quechquemitl' is a daughter: the princess 6 Monkey 'Serpent Quechquemitl', known at other times as 'War Quechquemitl'. She is depicted conversing with the priest 10 Lizard 'Dead Man's Hair', who now also appears to to have the surname 'Jade Axe'. If he is the same one mentioned on p. 3, band I, he would be at least 142 years old. Therefore, the name must be that of an office rather than of an individual, unless the scribe is telling us of one of those legendary men of extraordinary longevity, who generally are given these attributes because two or more related personages have been taken for one individual. It could also mean that 'Jade Axe' serves to distinguish this 10 Lizard from his predecessors and from those having the same name. The purpose of the conversation between this personage and F 6 Monkey 'Serpent Quechquemitl' is to establish the rights of this princess to the throne of Belching Mountain, in view of her brothers' sacrificial deaths. Band II (right to left). On the day 4 Wind of the year 4 House (1029), eight years after the war in the town Skull, M 10 Eagle 'Stone Tiger', father of the princess and sacirficed princes, has to defend his city Belching Mountain against M 3 Lizard 'Jade Hair', who is from the town River of Tlaloc's Cave-Heart-Turquoise. The reason for this battle seeCodex Selden (Codex Añute): Mixtec pictorial manuscript ( ñee ñuhu ), 1556 × 1560s. MS to have been to protect the princes of Tilantongo, the last heir to the First Dynasty of that town (the explanation of this battle is found in the Codex Zouche-Nuttal, p. 5-8). Band III (left to right). The elder M 10 Lizard 'Ruffled Hair', who now apparently has three other surnames besides 'Axe-Jewel' ('Eagle-Down', 'Arrow', and 'Flaming Mirror'), sends the princess 6 Monkey 'Serpent Quechquemitl' to speak with the elder M 6 Vulture 'Bone Planting Stick'. The latter forces her to go into the earth (in a cave?), perhaps as a magical trial. The date which appears here is linked by a line to an event taking place on the next band. She later emerges and continues her journey (to the right). Band IV (right to left). The date of day 6 Serpent of the year 5 Reed (1043?), given on band III, is related to the visit made by F 6 Monkey and her husband 10 Wind (should be 11 Wind) 'Bloody Tiger' to see F 9 Grass 'Death', ruler of the town Skull, that is, the town for which the princes (6 Monkey's brothers) had died in sacrifice. The prince and princess are clearly represented in a humble attitude before the goddess; she delivers a long discourse, especially to F 6 Monkey (see line from the goddess' mouth representing her words). Here, they begin to give offerings which they have brought. The order in which the offerings are presented is strictly indicated by a line (see p. 3-III and IV). The offerings consist of a gold and jade Xolotl mask, an ear of corn or a fruit of the same materials; a necklace or breast plate, a bee, a snail shown in cross-section, called by the Mexicans ehecailacacozcatl or 'jewel of the wind', two necklaces made of gold beads in the form of hooks (one of them is on p. 7, band I).