In the first group the fourth hieroglyph is the Bacab sign familiar to us
from pages 51-58, suggesting that the series here is closely connected with
the one which had the difference 91. The fifth sign of the same group is
that for _beginning_, probably to confirm the fact that this section begins
here. The third sign of the first group is probably an Imix, as it is in
the first and fourth of the fourth group, combined here with the woman's
head, which we saw repeated on pages 62 and 63 at the top; and over it in
the second place of the fourth group is B's hieroglyph, which is also
repeated on pages 62 and 63 at the top. The third place of the fourth group
is occupied by a head, which may be C's and which is distinguished by the
same kind of circle which on page 9b surrounded the Ahau.
Eight complete dates are set down below the serpents, among which are the
XIII Akbal already found with the previous large numbers, and III Chicchan
(repeated three times), and then III Kan (twice), forming the beginning and
end of the series (page 64), and also III Cimi and III Ix. As we shall see
directly these are the end dates of the large numbers, and Xul = end
repeated eight times at the extreme bottom corresponds with this. On the
other hand, the starting-points must be found by computation, with the
exception of the date IX Kan 12 Kayab, which is actually written down and
is the point of departure for three of the numbers.
I will designate the black numbers by _a_ and the red by b. Seven of the
eight numbers are undoubtedly absolutely correct; but I must alter the
number 1b, the red number belonging to the first serpent. I assume that a
line is wanting in the lowest figure, _i.e._, it should be 8 instead of 3,
and that the conspicuously large 1 further down on the page serves also as
the red number, which belongs here. Only one slight change is necessary in
the dates on the bottom of the pages, which were mentioned above. To the 16
in the date 4b I add a dot, and read it 17.
I will now give a table of the numbers, the starting-points of the periods
obtained by computation, and the ends of the latter which are indicated
below the serpents:--
1a: 12,489,781; XI Kan 12 Kankin (1 Ix); III Chicchan 18 Xul (4 Muluc).
1b: 12,388,121; XI Kan 12 Muan (7 Ix); III Chicchan 13 Pax (4 Ix).
2a: 12,454,761; IX Kan 7 Kankin (4 Cauac); III Chicchan 13 Yaxkin
(2 Ix).
2b: 12,394,740; IX Kan 2 Chen (5 Kan); III Kan 12 Ceh (7 Ix).
3a: 12,438,810; IX Kan 12 Xul (3 Ix); III Ix 7 Zac (9 Muluc).
3b: 12,466,942; IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix); III Cimi 14 Kayab (9 Ix).
4a: 12,454,459; IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix); XIII Akbal 1 Kankin (1 Kan).
4b: 12,394,740; IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix); III Kan 17 Uo (7 Muluc).
See my treatise, "Die Schlangenzahlen in der Dresdener Mayahandschrift"
(Weltall, year 5, pages 199-203).
Several details show how this number-structure forms a definite, closely
connected whole.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account