Marking time: Ancient roots of the modern calendar
Among the oldest civilisations that existed in the storied past of 500-1000 B.C. were the ancient Incas (of Peru) and the Mayas and Aztecs (of South and Central Mexica). These ancient people were famed for building giant pyramids of stone, stone sculptures, and giant stone monuments. The Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs worshipped the Sun God. Towering temples of stone were constructed to house the Sun God and invite its blessings.
In recent years, archaeologists who had explored this lost civilisation have discovered from the stony remains of the calendar that the Mayas and Aztecs were the first to introduce to the world having eighteen months (running into 360 days).
Each such month was composed of 20 days having an extra five- day period, called Uayeb which was an unlucky period. These 18 months had 18 symbols together with another sign for the Uayeb. They were staunch believers of the Sun God whom they propitiated through human sacrifice by chopping off the heart that was still palpitating
Chronological order
As customary the world over, when the New Year dawned, people adorned themselves with new clothes. The ancient Mayas too discarded their old clothes and put on new clothes and even destroyed their pottery and mats which they replaced with new ones.
Their first month (New Year) called – Pop. Uo- the second month was for festivals when the gods who had helped the fishermen and hunters had to be propitated. In that manner, each month had its own significances involving some religious cultural or spiritual affairs or some festivity.
Aztecs calendar
The Aztecs had evolved a similar calendar system which was in two forms, the ritualistic and the solar calendar, having the same number of 18 months running into 360 days plus five unaccounted days, called the empty “nomontemi”. They too had eighteen, twenty day months.
A well-preserved Aztec stone calendar depicting the 18, 20 day months with the Sun God in the centre and other solar symbols is among the many archaeological finds found in Central Mexico after excavations in past years. This monumental Stone Calendar, 13 feet in height, weighs 24 tons. It had taken two years for the carvings to be completed (i.e. 1479- 81 A.D.) With the invasion of the Spaniards in the 16th century, the civilisation of the Mayas and Aztecs was completely destroyed and went into oblivion, till recent excavations brought to light the lost treasures of their great civilisation.
The Aztecs had different names for each such month which was linked with some religious, cultural, and festival significance. The first month was called “Actoulace”, (want of water) which was their New Year when there were ceremonial parades and sacrifices. The second month was called “Tlacaxipeualistili” (boning of the men). During this month, there were ceremonies and parades which lasted 16 days.
In this way it went on till the 18th, the day which was dedicated to “lzcalli “when came to a mass sacrificial festival. The women who were to be immolated were lashed to scaffolds and shot with arrows. Then came last of all, with the end of the 360 days, the five “empty days” (February -7 -11) called “nemontemi” during which period they did nothing, no festivals, no ceremonies, they simply waited and waited till the end of the five-day period was over.
Their sixth month which fell in May was the rainy season. Children were sacrificed to the Rain God in gratitude for the plentiful rain that was given to them.
The seventh month fell in June which was the rewarding month for the salt workers who obtained salt from the lakes of Anahuas to mimic their dances. The eighth month which fell in July was the joyous month as it was the month of the consumption of the harvested corn (just like our custom in April) which lasted for eight days in real festival mood.
The eleventh month (“Ochpanizti”-month of brooms) was more of pomp and ceremony, displaying military prowess and parades of the chieftains and commanders.
The 14th month involved penance for four days during which time there was sexual abstinence. This was also the month of rain (October)- just as we have it in this same month , when the rains come from the North East monsoon that coincides with the paddy and other food crops are being cultivated.