The Florentine Codex – Link to the Meanings
Written down in 16th-century, the Florentine Codex is where most of our information is obtained. By interviewing a group of Nahua men, Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún documented the culture, symbolism and natural history of the Aztec people. The Aztecs or Mexica as they called themselves were a militaristic warrior culture that occupied the rain forests of Mesoamerica. They built their city in the great marshes of Lake Texcoco.
The most well-known mandala is the Aztec stone calendar dedicated to the sun god. It is a massive carving 3 feet thick, almost 12 feet across and filled with common symbols. A day consists of a number and a symbol. Each symbol represents a god who rules that time. Each god rules a different quality like intelligence, cooperation or cleverness. Each symbol has deep and complex meanings. The symbols are divided in many ways including: their meanings, their placement in the cosmos and the creation myth, their meaning in daily life.
Weather is vital in the Aztec culture, it regulates the days and the crops. The most common symbols are wind, light, storm, and earthquake.