[Aztlan] Directional colors in Nahua thought

[Adam John Cooper]

Greetings,

I was wondering if any list members could offer some
insight for me.  I've been re-reading Leon-Portilla's
book, "Aztec Thought and Culture", and various other
things, trying to get a handle on how the Nahuas and
others conceived of their universe in a metaphysical
way.

Looking at the four cardinal directions, I know each
was associated with a particular sign (e.g. Flint with
North, House with West, etc.), and with particular
deities or, more accurately, forces (these vary a lot,
but for example the Black Tezcatlipoca with the North,
Huitzilopochtli with the South).

I also understand that four colors tended to be
associated with each direction: black, red, blue, and
white.  Black seems pretty clearly associated with the
North (and death), and Blue with the South.  The other
two I am not sure about.

Leon-Portilla, on pg. 35 of the Univ of Oklahoma Press
edition, says "the red Tezcatlipoca soon identified
himself with the East, Tlapallan, the region of red
color... Quetzalcoatl with the West [presumably the
region of white]".

Later on, in the same book, pg. 57, he offers a quote
which seems to contradict this: "There [West] where it
sets, there is its home, in the land of the red
color... opposite the region of the sun's house [its
house is in the West, so I presume we're talking now
about the East?] is the direction of light, fertility,
and life, symbolized by the color white."

I guess my confusion comes from reading the quote to
indicate that the Sun's house is in the West.  Am I
reading it incorrectly?

Any input would be welcome.

regards,

--Adam