A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex — John Shaqi
A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden CodexGuthe, Carl E. (Carl Eugen)
Science
A Possible Solution of the Number Series on Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex
Guthe, Carl E. (Carl Eugen)
Codex Dresdensis Maya
There are three distinct series. One series of numbers is in the upper
part of the record, and consists of totals increased step by step until
the final total reached records 11,958 days. Just below this series are
three series of day signs and numbers, the middle one of which is the
actual series. These dates are separated by the same number of days as
the upper number series, except in the 23d group, at which place one
extra day is added to the day series and not to the upper number series,
causing the former to be in advance of the latter one day throughout the
remainder of the record. At the end of the day series another extra day
is added by counting in the last day in the lower row of days, thus
completing the 11,960-day period.
Below this day series is another number series no term of which exceeds
178. In a general way it records the differences between the dates
appearing above each of its numbers. The agreement is however so
inaccurate that this lower number series could, at best, have been used
only as a general guide to the user of the manuscript, in that it calls
attention to the intervals of unusual length.
The series recorded is composed of three equal parts, each composed of
23 subdivisions and covering 3986 days.
The number series on these pages record an eclipse calendar, that is, a
series of dates by means of which the occurrence of eclipses was
foretold. This calendar is composed of three identical parts, with the
exception of one 148-day group which occurs six months earlier in the
last third than in the other two. Each third is composed of 23 unequal
subdivisions which represent the twenty-three eclipse seasons, expressed
in lunar months, in 3986 days. The upper number series records this
calendar, and its total of 11,958 days is only .39 days less than 69
eclipse seasons.
In order to make it more intelligible this eclipse calendar is
accompanied by a probably more generally known lunar calendar, which may
have been altered slightly to conform to the requirements of the eclipse
calendar it accompanies. This lunar calendar is contained in the day
series just below the eclipse calendar. It also is recorded in three
divisions agreeing closely with the eclipse calendar. One hundred and
thirty-five lunar months of 30 and 29 days complete 3986 days, .63 days
less than 135 synodical revolutions of the moon. This error which
amounts to more than one day when repeated once, necessitates the
addition of an extra day in the lunar calendar every other third, which
was done in the manuscript in the first and last third, making the total
recorded by the lunar calendar 11,960, two days more than the eclipse
calendar, and .11 days more than 405 synodical revolutions of the moon.
This period of 11,960 days may have been used as a cycle, the zero day
of which is 12 Lamat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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