30 May 2025 / 10 House
Article suitable for older students
Find out moreFlorentine Codex Book 5
10th Nov 2022
Book 5 of the Florentine Codex is short, titled ‘The Omens’, and devoted entirely to Mexica superstitions and portents. These range from night-time scares to omens surrounding certain creatures and fears stemming from domestic mishaps. Our two examples are found in the Appendix.
1). Fourth chapter [Appendix], which telleth of dried grains of maize.
’As to dried grains of maize, in many ways were the women none the less deluded. First, when they cooked it or set it in ashes - behold their folly: when they would place it in the olla [pot] with ashes, first of all they breathed upon it. It was held that in this way it would not take fright; thus it would not fear the heat. It was said that thus they mitigated the heat.’ -----
2). Sixth chapter [Appendix], which telleth of drinking.
’As to drinking, there also was a delusion of the ancients... And in this wise was the account of it: when, perchance, one drank; if one yet a small child drank first, and afterwards one drank who was a little older, already grown, then [the elder] restrained and took the water from the small child. He said to him: ”Why dost thou wish to drink first? Thou wilt not grow large, but remain small. Now let thy elder brother drink, for he is already bigger.”