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
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13 8 2 Second. 58_a_.
8 18[325-2]
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13 17 0 Third. 58_a_.
8 17
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14 7 17 Fourth. 58_a_.
8 17
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14 16 14 First. 51_b_.[325-3]
We have in what has thus far been given a satisfactory explanation of the
meaning and use of the lines of numerals and also of their relation to
the day columns, but we still fall short of a complete interpretation,
inasmuch as we are unable to give the series a definite location in the
Maya calendar or in actual time. It is apparent, however, that the series
cannot by any possible explanation be made to agree with the calendar
system as usually accepted, as there is nothing in it indicating the four
series of years or the year of 365 days. It may be safely assumed, I
think, from what has been shown, that the year referred to in the series
is one of 360 days, with probably a periodic addition of one day, but the
reason of the addition is not yet apparent.
If the numbers in the lowest line of numerals over the day columns
indicate the days of the month, and those of the middle line the
respective months of the year, it is evident, as before stated, that
Muluc is the first day of the year throughout, a conclusion
irreconcilable with the Maya calendar as hitherto understood. It is
probable, however, that the month and day numbers do not refer to
particular months and days, but are used only as intervals of time
counted from a certain day, which must in this case have been Muluc.
The sum of the series as shown by the numbers over the second column of
Plate 58_b_ is 33 years, 3 months, and 18 days. As this includes only the
top day of this column (10 Cimi), we must add two days to complete the
series, which ends with 12 Lamat. This makes the sum of the entire
series 33 years, 4 months, or 11,960 days, precisely 46 cycles of 13
months, or 260 days each, the whole and also each cycle commencing with
13 Muluc and ending with 12 Lamat. It is also worthy of notice that in
the right hand column of characters (hieroglyphics) over the inverted
figure in Plate 58_b_ two numbers, 13 and 12, are found attached to
characters which appear to be abnormal forms of month symbols.
On Plates 63 and 64 are three series of ten day columns each and three
lines of numerals over each series. These are as follows, so far as they
can be made out, the numbers over the upper series being mostly
obliterated. The 0 denotes the red, diamond shaped symbol which is here
sometimes given in fanciful forms.
TABLE XX.--_Table showing series of day columns, with lines of numerals._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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