The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 7 of 12) - Mirrors

364 The Golden Bough (Third Edition, Vol. 7 of 12)[311]on the coast of Mexico, dated the beginning of their year fromthe heliacal setting of the Pleiades, which in the latitude of VeraCruz (19° N.) in the year 1519 fell on the first of May of theGregorian calendar. 1013 The Aztecs appear to have attached greatimportance to the Pleiades, for they timed the most solemn andimpressive of all their religious ceremonies so as to coincide withthe moment when that constellation was in the middle of the skyat midnight. The ceremony consisted in kindling a sacred newfire on the breast of a human victim on the last night of a greatperiod of fifty-two years. They expected that at the close of oneof these periods the stars would cease to revolve and the worlditself would come to an end. Hence, when the critical momentapproached, the priests watched from the top of a mountain themovement of the stars, and especially of the Pleiades, with theutmost anxiety. When that constellation was seen to cross themeridian, great was the joy; for they knew that the world wasrespited for another fifty-two years. Immediately the bravestand handsomest of the captives was thrown down on his back;a board of dry wood was placed on his breast, and one of thepriests made fire by twirling a stick between his hands on theboard. As soon as the flame burst forth, the breast of the victimwas cut open, his heart was torn out, and together with the rest ofhis body was thrown into the fire. Runners carried the new fire atfull speed to all parts of the kingdom to rekindle the cold hearths;for every fire throughout the country had been extinguished as apreparation for this solemn rite. 1014Society), i. 275. Compare J. de Acosta, Natural and Moral History of theIndies (London, 1880, Hakluyt Society), ii. 304.1013 E. Seler, Alt-Mexikanische Studien, ii. (Berlin, 1899) pp. 166 sq., referringto Petrus Martyr, De nuper sub D. Carolo repertis insulis (Basileae, 1521), p.15.1014 B. de Sahagun, Histoire Générale des choses de la Nouvelle Espagne(Paris, 1880), pp. 288 sq., 489 sqq.; A. de Herrera, General History ofthe Vast Continent and Islands of America, translated by Capt. J. Stevens(London, 1725-1726), iii. 222; F. S. Clavigero, History of Mexico, translated