XXVI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas

- 102 ­
As has. been clearly shown, the JVlexicans tied thei r 4-year periocls
with an additional feast, "Cuahuitl eua", at the end of that period of
time, and celebrated the event with great ceremonies. In no place do
\Ve find mention, or indication, that they tied a period of 13 years.
A few writers have based their ca1culations on a 360-day year, explaining
that the 5 days called "nemontemi" which completed the 365-day
year, were not counted; and those writers affirm that: " Each period
of 13 years began with the symbol Cipactli and the numeral 1; and this
period of 13 years was the perfect period for the combination of th,:
days". However, the great Doctor Seler (15), has proved that such J.
computation is erroneous, because there 'would not result the 73 Tonalamatl
at the end of the 52-year cyele. Also, as has already been explained:
"hile the Mexicans never had a 36S-day year, they had its equivaJ ent.
N' of days in 52 yrs.
73 Tonalamatl, or 73 X 260 days ;:= .... .................................. . .. IS,9&> days.
The 4-year period, or Tlalpil1i con tained:
73 feasts of 20 days each ;:= 1,460 days.
13 TJalpilli ;:= 13 X 1.460 days ;:= ........... .. ...... ......................... 18,980
Also. the European Calendar (Omitting extra days for leap­
IS.9&>
years) = ....................................................,.... 52 X 365......
But. carrying out the 360-day year basis = ............... 52 X 360..... r8.720 -
T hi s 360-day calendar results erroneous. as Dr. Selcr said.
CHAPTER III
THE NEMONTEM1 DAYS.
As has been explained, Sahagún and later writers, even up to the present
time, have erroneously based their chronological calculations on a
36S-day year, which the Mexican Calendar never hado Consulting the di f­
fe rent works, we find th3t 1110St of the writers affirm that tbe Mexican
year contained:
1st -
2nd -
3rd -
365 days
r8 annual feasts of 20 days each. making 360 days.
additionaJ days (placcd at the end oí the year. or in. Ol' afler sorne feast).
called uNemontl!m·i" days; which days were counted in the different tables
and chronological computations. just like al1 the other days of tlle 365-day
year:
(r 5) E. Seler (SGA. p. r73).