Day Symbols of the Maya Year: Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1894-1895, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1897, pages 199-266.Thomas, Cyrus
Religion
Day Symbols of the Maya Year: Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1894-1895, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1897, pages 199-266.
Thomas, Cyrus
Maya calendar
I am inclined to believe the symbol in this instance is a mere
pictograph intended to represent the tip of some lanceolate leaf, the
dots denoting the hairs along the edge. The tips of the "reed grass," as
shown in the symbolic representation of _Zacatla_ ("Nombres Geográficos"
by Peñafiel; plate LXVI, 13), would give precisely the dot-bordered
tooth in the symbol. It is to be observed, however, that the Mexican
symbol for this day, the usual form of which is shown in LXVI, 14, is
essentially different and has joined with the green blades the skeleton
underjaw. In some instances, as at _Malinaltepec_ ("Nombres
Geográficos"), the entire skull is added. A more elaborate form of the
symbol, from the Borgian Codex plate 26, is given in LXVI, 15. Here the
skeleton jaw is replaced by the roots of the plant; observe, however,
the brush-like projections above. Are we to see in this associated
death's-head a reference to death, or rather to the earth, a symbolism
undoubtedly found in the Tro. Codex? Or must we suppose that behind the
name is to be found the signification of the Meztitlan name _itlan_,
from _tlantli_, "tooth?" Dr Seler remarks that "it seems to me quite
possible that the point surrounded by dots in the character _eb_ is an
abbreviation of figure 326" (the prefix to our plate LXIV, 48).[245-1]
THE THIRTEENTH DAY
Maya, _ben_ or _been_; Tzental, _ben_; Quiche-Cakchiquel, _ah_; Zapotec,
_quii_, _ii_, or _laa_; Nahuatl, _acatl_.
The symbol of this day is subject to but few and, with one or two
exceptions, but slight variations. Landa's figure is represented at
LXVI, 16, those usual in the codices in LXVI, 17, 18, 19, and an
irregular form found in Dres. 10c in symbol 20 of the same plate. When
used in combination with other glyphs and otherwise than as a day
symbol, the form, though usually typical, is subject occasionally to
wide variations, though there is considerable doubt whether the latter
are to be considered _ben_ symbols.
Dr Seler contends that the figure originated from the plaited reed or
mat, which, if correct, enables us to trace it by gradations to a wholly
different figure. But before referring further to these, it is best that
the signification of the names should be given, as determined by
linguistic evidence.
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