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
Representing the numerals and symbols as heretofore and substituting a
cipher where the numbers are wanting or are too much obliterated to be
determined by inspection, the series will be as follows: 11, XI; 8 + 20,
0; 12 (or 13), XIII; 6 + 20, XIII; 12, VII (?); 16 (?), V; 5, X; 1, XI;
20, V; 12, IV, 6, X; 0, V; 5, X; 7, IV; 12 (?), II; 5, VII; 8, II; 11, 0.
Commencing with the XIII over the day columns and counting as heretofore,
we obtain the following result: XIII + 11 - 13 = XI; XI + 8 + 20 - 13 -
13 = XIII. The first blank should therefore be filled with XIII.
Continuing, XIII + 13 - 13 = XIII; the black numeral in this case should
be 13, although apparently 12 in the codex; XIII + 6 + 20 - 13 - 13 =
XIII; XIII + 12 - 13 = XII. Here the result obtained differs from the red
numeral in the codex, which is apparently one line and two dots, or VII;
but, by carefully examining it or inspecting an uncolored copy, the two
lines which have been covered in the colored copy by a single broad red
line are readily detected. The next black numeral is partially
obliterated, the remaining portion indicating 16, but it is apparent from
the following red numeral that it should be 19. Making this correction we
proceed with our count: XII + 19 - 13 - 13 = V; V + 5 = X; X + I = XI; XI
+ 20 - 13 - 13 = V; V + 12 - 13 = IV; IV + 6 = X. The next black numeral
is obliterated, but is readily restored, as X + 8 - 13 = V; V + 5 = X; X
+ 7 - 13 = IV. The next step presents a difficulty which we are unable to
explain satisfactorily. The black numeral to be counted here, which
stands over the animal figure in the upper division of Plate 39, is 12,
both in Kingsborough's copy and in Förstemann's photograph, and is clear
and distinct in each, and the following red numeral is as distinctly II,
whereas IV + 12 - 13 = III. Moreover it is evident from the remaining
numbers in the line that this red numeral should be II. We may assume
that the Maya artist has made a mistake and written 12 instead of 11,
which is evidently the number to be used in the count; but this
arbitrary correction should not be resorted to so long as any other
explanation is possible. From the fact that immediately under these
numbers there are certain symbols which appear to have some reference to
the termination of one year or cycle and the commencement of another, it
is possible that a supplemental, unnumbered, but not uncounted day has
been added. The fact that this interval of twelve days includes the day
Ymix lends some probability to this supposition. Using 11 instead of 12,
we continue our count as follows: IV + 11 - 13 = II; II + 5 = VII; VII +
8 - 13 = II; II + 11 = XIII. Thirteen is, therefore, the last number of
the series, which is wanting in the codex. The 8 and II next to the last
pair of the series are not in line with the other numbers, but thrust
into and near the bottom of the column of characters in the upper
division of Plate 39. Adding together the black numbers as thus amended
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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