combination. If its equivalent is given in these, it is of the form
shown in 33. It is, however, occasionally seen on articles of stone, as
the spearpoint (32) and stone hatchet (34) and sacrificial knife. It
also appears in the symbol for the stone mortar (36) from Tro. 19c.
Before discussing its signification and probable origin we will give the
significations which have been suggested of the different names of the
day.

The signification of the Nahuatl name--_tecpatl_--is "flint." Dr Brinton
says, "especially the flint-stone knife used in sacrificing, to cut the
victim." Dr Seler finds agreement in the Tzental name from a statement,
by Nunez de la Vega, that the symbol _chinax_, or rather the tutelary
god of the same, was a great warrior, who was always represented in the
calendars with a banner in his hand, and that he was slain and burned by
the nagual of another heathen symbol. Dr Brinton states that the name
"is an old or sacred form of the usual _zni-nax_, 'knife.'" The literal
meaning of the Cakchiquel _tihax_ is, according to Ximenes, "it bites,
scraping" (muerde rasgando). Dr Seler, however, affirms that Ximenes
(with what authority he knows not) gives "obsidian" as the meaning. He
thinks the word is related to the root _teuh_, "cold"--_tih-ih_, "to be
cold"--with which may be compared the words _tic_, "to stick in, prick;"
_tiz_, "to stitch," and _tiztic_, "pointed."

In regard to the Zapotec name, _gopa_, _gopaa_, or _opa_, the authors
named differ quite widely, Dr Seler deriving it from _rogopa_, "cold,"
and Dr Brinton suggesting that it is more likely "a variant of _guipa_,
a sharp point or edge, whence the word for stone knife, _gueza-guipa_,
from _guia_, stone."

The Maya name, however, does not appear to be readily brought into
harmony with the others. Dr Seler simply remarks that it may be related
to the root _e_, "firm, rigid, hard." Pio Perez offers no explanation.
Dr Brinton suggests that it is a figurative expression for the
sacrificial knife, from _nab_, something anointed, or blood, and _edz_,
to adjust, to point, to sharpen.

There can be no question that the articles in the codices on which the
trembling cross is found consists, in most instances, if not all, of
stone. Hence it is a reasonable conclusion that the primary
signification of the symbol is stone. The Zotzil name for "flint"
(pedernal) is _zuiton_.

I am inclined to believe that the symbol is derived from a conventional
form