MACUILTOCHTLI = “FIVE RABBIT”

Mayauel. (From Codex Borgia, sheet 16.)

Macuiltochtli. (From Sahagun MS.) (See p. 297.) Totochtin (From Sahagun MS.) (See p. 298.)

THE OCTLI-GODS.

ASPECT AND INSIGNIA

General.—In both Codex Vaticanus B and Codex Borgia he is painted a yellow colour, but in Borgia very deep yellow, almost brown, to distinguish the rectangularly bordered yellow field which is seen in the neighbourhood of the eye, and is characteristic of all the gods of the “Macuil” series. In Codex Vaticanus B this process is reversed, the yellow field being painted a darker, greyer shade. In this MS., too, the god resembles Macuil Cozcaquauhtli, but has a bundle of stone knives before his mouth, and he wears at the frontal side of the head-fillet a flower, from which stone knives project. On his breast is seen the eye, the original form of Tezcatlipocâ’s white ring, and on his upper arm he has a large armlet, painted a blue colour.

Sahagun MS.—The Sahagun MS. describes him as having the hand motif in the region of the mouth. On the head is a feather helmet surmounted by a comb of feathers, and he wears a necklet of animal claws. A red-bordered cloth is twisted round the hips. The sandals are white. The shield, which is described as a “sun-shield,” is red, and has claw ornaments. The god carries an obsidian axe, and a staff with a heart inset and painted with quetzal-feathers.

NATURE AND STATUS

From his possession of the hand-symbol in the region of the mouth, Macuiltochtli, the “Five Rabbit,” seems to me to be in some measure equated with the gods Macuilxochitl and Xolotl, and thus partakes with them of the quality of a deity of pleasure and conviviality.

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