Resumen

MIKULSKA, Katarzyna. The god in mosaic? The image composition of the deity in the divinatory codices. Trace (Méx. DF) [online]. 2017, n.71, pp.40-75. ISSN 2007-2392.  https://doi.org/10.22134/trace.71.2017.26.

This article analyzes graphic components of the deities’ images as they appear in pre-Hispanic divination (calendrical-religious) codices of central Mesoamerica, choosing a few examples, mostly from the Borgia Codex, to establish if these graphic representations might be addressed as permanent images of some sort or rather as a dynamic composition of graphic elements that can “define” a divine force. It is noted that different graphic elements refer to a particular meaning or idea. Additionally, in many cases they apply to the name or titles which are used to designate or describe one or several deities. However, it is not the case of a fixed ascription of a distinctive element -neither of the name-, to a single god, since even the most “individual” features at times can be used to complement, enrich or specify the visual “composition” of another deity.

Palabras llave : Borgia Codex; Aztec deities; divinatory codex; distinctive feature.

        · resumen en Español | Francés     · texto en Español     · Español ( pdf )