Article suitable for older students

Florentine Codex Book 8

26th Nov 2023

Book 8 of the Florentine Codex is titled ‘Kings and Lords’. It lists and profiles/portrays the rulers of Tenochtitlan, Tlatelolco, Texcoco and Huexotla; it then discusses the importance of Tollan (Tula), the omens seen before the arrival of the Spaniards, and then proceeds to describe the various entertainments enjoyed by rulers, including feasts, costumes, amusements; finally, it describes aspects of government, of the market place, élite education, and the training of judges.

1). Tenth chapter, in which is told how the rulers took their pleasure.
’There were their jesters who provided them with solace and gave them pleasure. And [there were those] who rolled a log with their feet thus bringing pleasure in many ways. Their deeds were laughable and marvellous; for with the soles of his feet one man [lying] below this did - he made a thick, round log dance with the soles of his feet [while] he lay upon this back and cast the log upward. With only the soles of his feet he did this.
’Many things they did to bring men pleasure. There were their servants, their pages who attended them and gave them solace; dwarfs, cripples, hunchbacks, servants. They kept eagles, ocelots, bears, mountain cats, and various birds.’ -----

2). Fourteenth chapter: here are described the palace and the houses of the lords...
’Tecpilcalli: there were [to be found] and were established the noblemen, the brave warriors, the valiant men, wise in war. If the ruler knew something ill of some nobleman - although he were a great prince, or brave warrior - if he had committed adultery, then he sentenced him to be stoned before the people, to die stoned.’ -----

3). Tenth chapter...
’Patolli was played with large beans - four large beans with holes bored into the surfaces. The game was won when from their hands they scattered the four beans on a mat painted in widely spaced black [lines], with which the patolli mat was designed. There went to be added the counters - twelve [of them], six the property of each, the counters of each of the contenders. He who won in playing patolli, won all the costly goods: golden necklaces... bracelets on which were round, green stones or fine turquoise, quetzal feathers, slaves, houses, fields, precious capes, mats, large capes, green stone lip plugs, golden ear plugs, duck feather capes.’ -----

4). Seventeenth chapter, in which are told the exercises of the rulers and how they might perform well their office and their government.
’[The ruler] determined, disposed, and arranged how war would be made. First he commanded masters of the youths and seasoned warriors to scan the [enemy] city and to study all the roads - where [they were] difficult, where entry could be made through them. This done, the ruler first determined, by means of a painted [plan], how was placed the city which they were to destroy. Then the ruler noted all the roads - where [they were] difficult, and in what places entry could be made.’ -----