|
Here in the Study you will find the results of my play activities! My trivia scores, organized role-play status and other game statistics are recorded here. Also, here you may find artifacts and other items I have been collecting and making through my game playing activities. Finally, you can see an index to all my posts to role-playing boards.
The Sacred Round - Center of Aztec Calendar Stone
While there is some evidence that the early Native Americans kept track of the seven-day week, the Sacred Round was by far more important to them.
The Sacred Round consists of two uninterrupted day-count cycles: one of 13 days called the trecena and one of 20 days called the veintena. The trecena consists of days numbered from 1 to 13 in an unending cycle. The first day of each trecena was sacred to Native Americans and was a day of fasting. Reseach indicates that the last day should also be considered sacred, as the culmination of the cycle. It is very similar to the week, where both the first day (Sunday) and the last (Saturday) have been considered sacred.
The cycle of twenty day names should really be thought of as an unending circle, or one eternal round. That is how it is depicted on the famous Aztec Calendar stone, the center of which is shown here. The twenty glyphs are shown in the outer circle, beginning at the top and proceeding counterclockwise. One reason that the circular form is important is that it is often important which figures are opposite each other because they often form opposing pairs. For example, the serpent is opposite from the eagle.
Different Native American tribes used different names for the 20 days of the vientena, but generally most tribes agreed on much of the symbolism. Studies have been made comparing the names from over 50 tribes. Those listed in the table were chosen from among those used, guided by the following principle:
Mayan priests have explained that the twenty names are not just random emblems, but rather that they represent 20 steps taken in the journey of life. Each day represents one day in life on which an important milestone event occurs. That again is consistent with the Sacred Round being a divine calendar because life is the work and glory of God. Some of the symbols have very clear meanings as given by the priests but others are cloaked in mystery and probably refer to sacred ordinances.
Avatar and entrance pic
are from The Gilded Age.
Art photos are from Art Works.
Statues are from American Art.
|
|
|
Current Amount in My Cashbox:
5,394 strti.
|
