Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices: Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1884-85, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888, pages 253-372Thomas, Cyrus
History
Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices: Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1884-85, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888, pages 253-372
Thomas, Cyrus
Codex Dresdensis Maya; Maya language
The first of these characters as given in Kingsborough's work is the
symbol of the day Ezanab, with the red numeral 13 to the left of it and
the black numeral 9 over it; but referring to Förstemann's
photolithographic copy of the codex it is found to be the symbol of Ahau.
The entire line, with this correction (that is to say, as given by
Förstemann), is represented in Fig. 360. In order to assist the reader,
the names of the days and numbers of the symbols have been added
immediately below the characters.
As the year to which the line relates is unknown, we select the Muluc
series, designated "Muluc column" in Table II, and commence with 13 Ahau,
the twelfth number of the third figure column. Counting 9 days from this
brings us to 9 Muluc, the top number of the fourth figure column and also
the second day of the line above given. (the symbol is a face in
Kingsborough's copy, but is plainly the Muluc sign in Förstemann's
photograph). Eleven days more bring us to 7 Ahau, the third day of the
above line; 20 more to 1 Ahau, the fourth day of the line (the 20 here is
the symbol represented by S); 10 more to 11 Oc, the fifth day of the
line; 15 more to 13 Chicchan, the sixth day of the line; 9 more to 9 Ix,
the seventh day of the line; 11 more to 7 Chicchan, the eighth day of the
line; line; 20 (S) more to 1 Chicchan, the ninth day of the line; 10 more
to 11 Men, the tenth day of the line, and so on to the end.
[Illustration: FIG. 360. Line of day and numeral characters.
Pl. 33 XIII Ahau IX Muluc
Pl. 34 11 VII Ahau | 20 I Ahau | 10 XI Oc | 15 XIII Chicchan
Pl. 35 9 IX Ix | 11 VII Chicchan | 20 I Chicchan
Pl. 36 10 XI Men | 15 XIII Oc | 9 IX Cauac
Pl. 37 11 VII Oc | 20 I Oc | 10 XI Ahau
Pl. 38 15 XIII Men | 9 IX Kan | 11 VII Men
Pl. 39 20 I Men(?) | 10 XI Chicchan | 15 XIII Ahau]
That the order of the series may be clearly seen the numbers are given
here as they stand in the line, omitting the days: XIII; 9, IX; 11, VII;
20, I; 10, XI; 15, XIII; 9, IX; 11, VII; 20, I; 10, XI; 15, XIII; 9, IX;
11, VII; 20, I; 10, XI; 15, XIII; 9, IX; 11, VII; 20, I; 10, XI; 15,
XIII.
By adding together a black numeral and the preceding red one and casting
out thirteen (or thirteens, as the case maybe), when the sum exceeds this
number, we obtain the following red one, thus: XIII + 9 - 13 = IX; IX +
11 - 13 = VII; VII + 20 - 13 - 13 = I; I + 10 = XI, and so on through the
entire series. Attention is also called to the fact that the sum of the
black (Arabic) numbers 9, 11, 20, 10, 15, 9, 11, 20, 10, 15, 9, 11, 20,
10, 15, 9, 11, 20, 10, 15, is 260, a multiple of 13.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account