A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden CodexGuthe, Carl E. (Carl Eugen)
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A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex
Guthe, Carl E. (Carl Eugen)
Codex Dresdensis Maya
Finally there remain only the totals of the series to be considered. The
total of the upper number series records 11,958 days. Sixty-nine eclipse
seasons complete 11,958.39 days, less than half a day more than the
recorded number. This close agreement and the failure to add the extra
intercalary day to the upper number series at the end of the first
third, give rise to the belief that the upper number series is a
calendar in itself, and records a means by which dates of probable
eclipses may be reckoned. The units of the count were eclipse seasons
expressed as lunar months, 69 of which are represented in the calendar
recorded on these pages.
The Mayas undoubtedly knew the relation of the eclipses to the moon, at
least in a vague way, and felt that it was necessary to associate this
eclipse calendar in some way with the lunar calendar, composed of 29-and
30-day months. Therefore the day series is found immediately below the
upper number series. This series of days constitutes a lunar calendar
which coincides as closely as possible with the eclipse calendar. It may
be the formal lunar calendar of the Mayas, but it may also be an
adaptation of the formal calendar to the eclipse periods. The day series
varies from the eclipse series in two places only. At the end of the
first third of the series, it was necessary to add one day to the lunar
calendar, an addition strongly pointed out in the record, but not to the
eclipse calendar, because of the increasing error between the
revolutions of the moon and the calendrical lunar months. Therefore,
throughout the remaining two-thirds of the series, the lunar calendar
was one day in advance of the eclipse calendar. At the end of the
series, since 405 of the moon’s revolutions complete 11,959.89 days, and
the day series only 11,959, one more day should be added, in order to
keep the error as small as possible. This was accomplished by changing
from the middle to the lower line of days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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