Sacred time of origin. Codex Bodley, c. 1501-1550 (drawing)

Codex Bodley / Codex Ñuu Tnoo', c. first half 16th century. MS. Mex. d.1, p. 2. Obverse. Book I. Starting at bottom. [Band v (left to right; very damaged, some disappearing scenes were reconstructed thanks to coloured drawings made in the 19th century for Antiquities of Mexico, ed. by Lord Kingsborough, London 1830-48). Three dates, too damaged to reconstruct refer to sacred time of origin. Pochote (or thorny ceiba tree) with flames above (expressing its sacredness). From this tree was born Lady 1 Death 'Sun Fan'. She was protected by two powerful spirits, Lord 4 Alligator 'Coyote Serpent' and] Lord 11 Alligator 'Jaguar Serpent'. All went to an important shrine on the Mountain of Heaven, near the village of Yuta Tnoho (Apoala). The axe next to the sign for heaven helps to identify the place as Cavua ('rock') Caa ('which rises into' or 'where is stretched out') Andevui ('heaven'), a dominant peak east of the village. Lord 4 Alligator 'Coyote Serpent' and Lord 11 Alligator 'Jaguar Serpent' offered precious gifts to a priest of Lord 4 Serpent-7 Serpent, the Patron deity of Ñuu Tnoo, who in turn spoke to them and gave them tobacco, a priest's tunic, jade and quetzal feathers. Band iv (right to left). As a result of this interaction, in the year 5 Reed (939), on the day 6 Alligator (date appears at end of band v), both lords instructed Lady 1 Death to leave the Place of Heaven. Before we hear where she went, a new lineage is introduced, associated with the sacred date year 5 Flint day 7 Flower', 'when the first day was born from earth', i.e. at the dawn of time.[The date actually consists of a combination of calendar names of the founding couple then depicted on p. 1: Lord 5 Flint 'Jaguar from the Tree' and Lady 7 Flower 'White Flower', ruling at Temple of Pearls, the Temple of Earthquakes. Their son was Lord 4 Alligator 'Blood Eagle', born in the Land of the Rain God, Ñuu Dzaui. Band iii (left to right). It was with him that Lady 1 Death contracted matrimony on the day 6 Jaguar, eve of the ritually important day 7 Eagle, of the year 6 Flint (940). They had one daughter: Lady 1 Vulture 'Cloud Jewel'. Then the nine other leading couples of the region came together to found the village-state of Ñuu Tnoo. 1) Lord 5 Serpent 'Performer of Self-Sacrifice for the Earth' and Lady 8 Flower 'Blood of the Town of Darkness', ruled the Place of Ceremonies in Ñuu Tnoo.] 2)Lord 10 Dog 'War Foot' and Lady 8 Grass 'Cloud of Ñuu Dzaui' ruled the Place Where the Sacred Arrow is Kept. 3) Lord 6 Movement 'Arrow' and Lady 9 House 'Sacred Seed of the Cave' were seated in the Cave of Clouds or the Cave of the Spring and the Tree. Its sacred date was year 7 Flint, day 9 House. Band ii (right to left). 4) The son of Lord 6 Movement and lady 9 House, Lord 5 Reed 'Born in War', married Lady 1 Flint 'Fire Serpent Jewel', the daughter of Lord 4 Rain 'Down-ball Quetzal' and Lady 7 Flower 'Eagle Wing', who ruled Stone of the Red and White Bundle. 5) the daughter of Lord 5 Reed and Lady 1 Flint was Lady 7 Death 'Fire Fan'. She married Lord 3 Rain 'Staff of Marks in the Ballcourt', ruler of Añute (Jaltepec).[Lord 4 Flower married Lady 3 Rain (not mentioned in Jansen and Perez Jimenez publication-surnames to be defined). 6) Lord 10 Flint 'Skull' from the ancient Dark Altar married Lady 8 Death 'Quetzal, Performing Self-Sacrifice for the Earth'. Band i (left to right). 7) In Temple of the Plant ruled Lord 7 Flower 'Jaguar, Mountain Bird' and Lady 5 Flint 'Cave Lady'. 8) Lord 10 Movement 'Flower Shield' and Lady 1 Movement 'Quetzal ruled Valley of Mud.] 9) Lord 4 Lizard 'Serpent that Carries the Sky' and Lady 8 House 'Visible on Earth' ruled Town of the Drum. Apparently Lord 4 Alligator had succeeded in bringing their lineages together and so integrated the power base of what was to become the kingdom of Ñuu Tnoo. Another important political factor was the ancient Zapotec capital of Monte Albán, the ruins of which are situated in a mountain near the city of Oaxaca. Its main sign, the 'mountain that is opened or torn', is to be read as Yucu Cahnu, 'Big Mountain'. It was a place of altars and vessels, a place of origin. Here ruled Lord 10 Movement 'Arrow' and Lady 1 Rabbit 'Shield'. Its sacred date was 1 Rabbit day 1 Rabbit.