Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices Part 9

Years. Months. Days.

14 16 14 First column on Plate 51_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 15 7 11 Second column on Plate 51_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 15 16 8 Third column on Plate 51_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 16 7 5 Fourth column on Plate 51_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 16 16 2 Fifth column on Plate 51_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- 17 5 10 Sixth column on Plate 51_b_.

8 18[319-1]

-- -- -- 17 14 8 First column on Plate 52_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 18 5 5 Second column on Plate 52_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 18 14 2 Third column on Plate 52_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 19 4 19 Fourth column on Plate 52_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- 19 13 16 First column on Plate 53_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- 20 3 4 Second column on Plate 53_b_.

At this point in the original, instead of 20 in the year series, we find a diamond shaped symbol, represented by 0 in our tables, with one black dot over it. From this it would seem that when this codex was written the Maya method of counting years was by periods of 20 each, as in the case of the month days. Whether there is any reference here to the ahaues is uncertain. I am inclined to think with Dr. Forstemann that it was rather in consequence of the use of the vigesimal system in representing numbers. It would have been very inconvenient and c.u.mbersome to represent high numbers by means of dots and lines; hence a more practicable method was devised. It is evident, from the picture inserted at this point in the series, that some important chronological event is indicated. Here also in the written characters over this picture is the symbol for 20.

The last number given in the above addition may therefore, in order to correspond with the method of the codex, be written as follows:

Twenty year periods. Years. Months. Days.

1 0 3 4

Continuing the addition in this way the result is as follows:

Twenty year periods. Years. Months. Days.

1 0 3 4 8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 0 12 1 Third column on Plate 53_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 1 2 18 Fourth column on Plate 53_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 1 11 15 Fifth column on Plate 53_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 2 2 12 First column on Plate 54_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 2 11 9 Second column on Plate 54_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 3 2 6 Third column on Plate 54_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- -- 1 3 9 14 Fourth column on Plate 54_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 4 0 11 Fifth column on Plate 54_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 4 0 8 First column on Plate 55_b_.

8 18[321-1]

-- -- -- -- 1 5 0 6 Second column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 5 9 3 Third column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 6 0 0 Fourth column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 6 8 17 Fifth column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 6 17 14 Sixth column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 7 8 11 Seventh column on Plate 55_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- -- 1 7 15 19 Eighth column on Plate 55_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 8 6 16 First column on Plate 56_b_.

8 18[321-2]

-- -- -- -- 1 8 15 14 Second column on Plate 56_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 6 6 11 Third column on Plate 56_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 9 15 8 Fourth column on Plate 56_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 10 6 5 First column on Plate 57_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- -- 1 10 15 2 Second column on Plate 57_b_.

7 8 -- -- -- -- 1 11 4 10 Third column on Plate 57_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 11 13 7 Fourth column on Plate 57_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 12 13 1 Fifth column on Plate 57_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 12 13 1 First column on Plate 58_b_.

8 17 -- -- -- -- 1 13 3 18 Second column on Plate 58_b_.

The proof, therefore, that the theory advanced in regard to the order and the plan of the series is correct seems to be conclusive. This probably would have been conceded without the repeated additions given, but these were deemed necessary because of several irregularities found in that portion running through Plates 53_a_-58_a_, which const.i.tutes the first half of the series.

Turning back to our Table VIII, representing that part of the series on Plate 53_a_, we will consider the three lines of black numerals above the day columns, discussing the irregularities as we proceed.

The numbers in the first column are 7/17,[TN-6] or, according to the explanation given, 7 months and 17 days. There is apparently a mistake here, the correct numbers being 8 months and 17 days, as it is the usual custom of the codex to commence numeral series with the prevailing interval; moreover this correction, which has also been made by Dr.

Forstemann, is necessary in order to connect rightly with what follows; the counters under this first column require this correction, as they are 8 months, 17 days. Making this change we proceed with the addition.

Years. Months. Days.

8 17 First column, Plate 53_a_ (corrected).

8 17 -- -- 17 14 Second column. Plate 53_a_.

Here the author of the codex has made another mistake or varied from the plan of the series. As several similar variations or errors occur in this part of the series, it will be as well to discuss the point here as elsewhere. Dr. Forstemann, in discussing the series, takes it for granted that these variations are errors of the aboriginal scribe; he remarks that "It is seen here that the writer has corrected several of his mistakes by compensation. For instance, the two first differences should be 177 [8 months, 17 days] and 148 [7 months, 8 days], not 176 and 149,"

&c.

This is a strained hypothesis which I hesitate to adopt so long as any other solution of the difficulty can be found. It is more likely that the writer would have corrected his mistakes, if observed, than that he would compensate them by corresponding errors.

Going back to that part of the series in the lower divisions which has already been examined and commencing with Plate 51_b_ (see Table VI), we observe that the numbers in the lowest of the three lines of black numerals, immediately over the day columns, and the first day of these columns are as follows (omitting the week days attached):

14 11 8 5 2 10 Ik. Cauac. Cib. Been. Oc. Ezanab.

Turning to the calendar (Table II) and using the Muluc column, we notice that the figures of this third line of black numerals denote respectively the month numbers of the days under them; that is to say, Ik is the fourteenth day of the month in Muluc years, Cauac the eleventh, Cib the eighth, Been the fifth, Oc the second, and Ezanab the tenth. This holds good through Plates 52_b_ to 58_b_ without a single exception, provided the diamond shaped symbol in the fourth column of Plate 55_b_ is counted as 20. This test, therefore, presents fewer exceptions than are found in counting the intervals as before explained; yet, after all, this would necessarily result from the fact that the day Muluc was selected as the commencement of the series, and hence may have no signification in reference to or bearing on the question of the year series, especially as the years counted are evidently of 360 days.

Returning now to our Table VIII, representing Plate 53_a_, we observe that the number immediately over Kan in the first column is 17, whereas Kan is the sixteenth day of the month. Is it not possible that the intention was to designate as the ceremonial day Chicchan, standing immediately below, which is the seventeenth day of the month in Muluc years? Even though there is no reference to Muluc years, the intervals may be given upon the same idea, that of reaching, for some particular reason, the second or third day of the column instead of the first. This would account for the compensation of which Dr. Forstemann speaks, without implying any mistake on the part of the writer. These irregularities would then be intentional variations from the order of the series, yet so as not to break the general plan.

The interval between 6 Kan of the first column (with the month number corrected) and 1 Ymix of the second is 8 months and 17 days, as it should be; between 6 Muluc and 1 Cimi, 8 months and 17 days; and between 1 Cimi and 9 Akbal, 8 months and 17 days, thus conforming to the rule heretofore given, a fact which holds good as a general rule throughout that portion of the series in the upper division.

Continuing the addition as heretofore we note the variations.

Years. Months. Days. Column. Plate.

17 14 Second. 53_a_.

7 8 -- -- -- 1 7 3 Third. 53_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 1 15 19[323-1] Fourth. 53_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 2 6 16 Fifth. 53_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 2 15 13 Sixth. 53_a_.

8 18[323-2]

-- -- -- 3 6 11 First. 54_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 3 15 8 Second. 54_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 4 6 5 Third. 54_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 4 15 2[324-1] Fourth. 54_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 5 5 19 Fifth. 54_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 5 14[324-2] 16 Sixth. 54_a_.

7 8 -- -- -- 6 4 4 Seventh. 54_a_.

8 18[324-3]

-- -- -- 6[324-4] 13 2 First. 55_a_.

8 17 -- -- -- 7 3 19[324-5] Second. 55_a_.