1 2 5 9
3 4 6 10
7 11
8 12.
The subject now passes into the province of astronomy. This is already
proved by sign 1, which represents the clouds, between which the sun or
moon is usually pictured; the sun is probably omitted here merely owing to
limited space. Sign 3 suggests the storm-god K (compare pages 7a and 47
left) to which in 2 the Ahau might be appropriately added, inasmuch as it
rules the year here under consideration as on pages 25b to 26c. On account
of the Ben-Ik sign I see in 4 one of the months of 28 days as a more exact
determination of time. Below the Ben-Ik a head is represented with eyes
apparently closed, and this head is repeated in 6 and 10, though, probably
for lack of space, without the Ben-Ik. In each of the three places a sign
is used as an affix which might readily be the year sign, contracted
laterally.
The two similar hieroglyphs 5 and 9, which have the following form, are
especially worthy of consideration:--
[Illustration]
The part on the right recalls by its trisection the sign _r_, which I
regard as the week of 13 days and, in fact, the interval between the two
hieroglyphs is 13 days. On the left is the inverted figure of a person in a
squatting attitude, the head surrounded by stars as on pages 57b and 58b
and a sign on the back which may be a suggestion of the sun-glyph. In this
figure, which occurs also in the Tro-Cort. and in the inscriptions, I see
the planet Mercury and I believe that that planet's retrogression (which
lasts 17-18 days) or disappearance into the light of the sun during this
week, is the subject of this passage. 7 and 8 are the sign for D with the
usual Ahau, and 11 and 12 are the hieroglyphs of the death-god A.
Instead of three pictures there is only one here, viz:--a woman with
nose-peg, sitting on a mat and apparently waiting for something. We also
find figures sitting on mats elsewhere, for example on pages 7b and 68b.
Page 21b.
VII VII 7 I 7 VIII 7 II 5 VII
Oc Ahau
Cib Cimi
Ik Eb
Lamat Ezanab
Ix Kan.
This is also a Tonalamatl of 10 parts (10 × 26). The first column should be
read first from top to bottom and then the second. The days are exactly the
same as on page 21a, and here too Cimi and Eb have changed places.