Trecena


A trecena is a 13-day period used in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican calendars. The 260-day calendar was divided into 20 trecenas. Trecena is derived from the Spanish chroniclers and translates to "a group of thirteen" in the same way that a dozen relates to the number twelve. It is associated with the Aztecs, but is called different names in the calendars of the Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, and others of the region.
Many surviving Mesoamerican codices, such as Codex Borbonicus, are divinitory calendars, based on the 260-day year, with each page representing one trecena.
n.ºTrecenaAztec deities associatedCardinal point
11 Cipactli TonacatecuhtliEast
21 Ehecatl QuetzalcoatlNorth
31 Calli Tepeyollotl, QuetzalcoatlWest
41 Cuetzpallin Huehuecoyotl or MacuilxochitlSouth
51 Coatl Chalchiuhtlicue and TlazolteotlEast
61 Miquiztli Tonatiuh and TecuciztecatlNorth
71 Mazatl Tlaloc and Chicomecoatl o 4 EhécatlWest
81 Tochtli Mayahuel and Xochipilli or CinteotlSouth
91 Atl Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli or XiuhtecuhtliEast
101 Itzcuintli MictlantecuhtliNorth
111 Ozomatli Patecatl and CuauhtliocelotlWest
121 Malinalli ItztlacoliuhquiSouth
131 Acatl Tezcatlipoca or Uactli and Ixcuina or TlazolteotlEast
141 Ocelotl TlazolteotlNorth
151 Cuauhtlil Xipe Totec and QuetzalcoatlWest
161 Cozcacuauhtli ItzpapalotlSouth
171 Ollin Xolotl and Tlalchitonatiuh or 4 OllinEast
181 Tecpatl ChalchiuhtotolinNorth
191 Quiahuit TonatiuhWest
201 Xochitl Xochiquetzal and TezcatlipocaSouth