glyph, 137
use, 137, 268
BAKHALAL (city), founding, 4
BAR, numerical value, 87-88
BAR AND DOT NUMERALS--
antiquity, 102-103
examples, plates showing, 157, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179
form and nature, 87-95
BATAB (chief), powers, 13
BIBLIOGRAPHY, xv-xvi
BOWDITCH, C. P.--
cited, 2, 45, 65, 117, 134, 203
on dating system, 82-83, 214-215, 272
on hieroglyphics, 30, 33, 71
on Supplementary Series, 152
works, vii-viii
BRINTON, _Dr._ D. G.--
error by, 82
on hieroglyphics, 3, 23, 27-28, 30, 33
on numerical system, 91
CALENDAR--
harmonization, 44, 215
starting point, 41-43, 60-62, 113-114
subdivisions, 37-86
_See also_ CALENDAR ROUND; CHRONOLOGY; DATING; LONG COUNT.
CALENDAR ROUND--
explanation, 51-59
glyph, 59
CALENDAR-ROUND DATING--
examples, 240-245
limitations, 76
CHAKANPUTAN (city), founding and destruction 4
CHICHEN ITZA (city)--
history, 3, 4, 5, 202-203
Temple of the Initial Series, lintel, interpretation, 199
CHILAN BALAM--
books of, 3
chronology based on, 2
CHRONOLOGY--
basis, 58
correlation, 2
duration, 222
starting point, 60-62, 113-114, 124-125, 147-148
_See also_ CALENDAR.
CITIES, SOUTHERN--
occupancy of, diagram showing, 15
rise and fall of, 2-5
CIVILIZATION, rise and fall, 1-7
CLOSING SIGN of Supplementary Series, glyph, 152-153, 170
CLOSING SIGNS. _See_ ENDING SIGNS.
CLOTHING, character, 7-8
COCOM FAMILY, tyranny, 5-6, 12
CODEX PERESIANUS, tonalamatls named in, 265
CODEX TRO-CORTESIANUS, texts, 262-265
CODICES--
astronomical character, 31-32, 276-278
character in general, 31, 252
colored glyphs used in, 91, 251
dates of, 203
day signs in, 39
errors, 270-271, 274
examples from, interpretation, 251-278
glyphs for twenty (20) used in, 92, 130
historical nature, 32-33, 35-36
Initial-series dating in, 266
examples, 266-273
interpretation, 31-33, 254-278
numeration glyphs used in, 103-104, 129-134
order of reading, 22, 133, 135, 137, 252-253
tonalamatls in, 251-266
zero glyph used in, 94
COEFFICIENTS, NUMERICAL. _See_ NUMERICAL COEFFICIENTS.
COGOLLUDO, C. L., on dating system, 34, 84
COLORED GLYPHS, use of, in codices, 91, 251
COMMERCE, customs, 9
COMPUTATION, possibility of errors in, 154-155
CONFEDERATION, formation and disruption, 4-5
{280}
COPAN (city)--
Altar Q, error on 246, 248
Altar S, interpretation 231-233
Altar Z, interpretation 242
history 15
Stela A, interpretation 169-170
Stela B, interpretation 167-169
Stela D, interpretation 188-191
Stela J, interpretation 191-192
Stela M, interpretation 175-176
Stela N, error on 248-249
interpretation 114-118, 248-249
Stela P, interpretation 185
Stela 2, interpretation 223
Stela 4, interpretation 224-225
Stela 6, interpretation 170-171
Stela 8, interpretation 229
Stela 9, antiquity 173
interpretation 171-173
Stela 15, interpretation 187-188
CRESSON, H. T., cited 27
CUSTOMS. _See_ MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
CYCLE--
glyphs 68
length 62, 135
number of, in great cycle 107-114
numbering of, in inscriptions 108, 227-233
CYCLE 8, dates 194-198, 228-229
CYCLE 9--
dates 172, 183, 185, 187, 194, 222
prevalence in Maya dating 194
CYCLE 10, dates 199-203, 229-233
CYCLE, GREAT--
length 135, 162
number of cycles in 107-114
CYCLES, GREAT, GREAT, AND HIGHER--
discussion 114-129
glyphs 118
omitted in dating 126
DATES--
abbreviation 222, 252
errors in computing 154-155
errors in originals 245-250, 270-271, 274
interpretation, in Initial Series 157-222, 233-245
in Period Endings 222-245
in Secondary Series 207-222, 233-245
monuments erected to mark 33-35, 249-250
of same name, distinction between 147-151
repetition 147
shown by red glyphs in codices 251
DATES, INITIAL. _See_ INITIAL-SERIES DATING.
DATES, INITIAL AND SECONDARY, interpretation 207-222
DATES, INITIAL, SECONDARY, AND PERIOD-ENDING, interpretation 233-245
DATES, PERIOD-ENDING. _See_ PERIOD-ENDING DATES.
DATES, PROPHETIC--
examples 229-233
use 271-272
DATES, SECONDARY. _See_ SECONDARY-SERIES DATING.
DATES, TERMINAL--
absence 218
finding 138-154
importance 154-155
position 151-154
DATING--
methods 46-47, 63-86
change 4
_See also_ CALENDAR-ROUND DATING; INITIAL-SERIES; PERIOD-ENDING;
SECONDARY-SERIES.
starting point 60-62, 113-114, 124-125
determination 135-136
DAY--
first of year 52-53
glyphs 38, 39, 72, 76
coefficients 41-43, 47-48
position 127-128
omission 127-128, 208
identification 41-43, 46-48
names 37-41, 112
numbers 111-112
position in solar year 52-58
round of 42-44
DAYS, INTERCALARY, lack of 45
DAYS, UNLUCKY, dates 45-46
DEATH, fear of 11, 17
DEATH GOD--
glyph 17, 257
nature 17
DECIMAL SYSTEM, parallel 129
_See also_ VIGESIMAL SYSTEM.
DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD, description 32
DIVINATION, codices used for 31
DIVORCE, practice 9
DOT, numerical value 87-88
DOT AND BAR NUMBERS. _See_ BAR AND DOT NUMBERS.
DRESDEN CODEX--
date 271-273
publication iii
texts 254-262, 266-278
plates showing 32, 254, 260, 266, 273
DRUNKENNESS, prevalence 10
EK AHAU (god), nature 17-18
ENDING SIGNS--
in Period-ending dates 102
in "zero" 101-102
ENUMERATION--
systems 87-134
comparison 133
_See also_ NUMERALS.
ERRORS IN TEXTS--
examples 245-250, 270-271, 274
plate showing 248
FEATHERED SERPENT (god), nature 16-17
FIBER-PAPER BOOKS. _See_ CODICES.
FISH, used in introducing glyph 65-66, 188
FIVE-TUN PERIOD. See HOTUN.
FÖRSTEMANN, _Prof._ ERNST--
cited 26, 137
investigations iii, 265, 276
methods of solving numerals 134
on hieroglyphics 30
on prophetic dates 272
FULL-FIGURE GLYPHS--
nature 67-68, 188-191
plate showing 188
_See also_ TIME PERIODS.
FUNERAL CUSTOMS, description 11-12
FUTURE LIFE, belief as to 19
{281}
GLYPH BLOCK, definition, 156
GLYPHS. _See_ HIEROGLYPHS.
GODS, nature, 16-19
GOODMAN, J. T.--
chronologic tables of, 134
cited, 2, 44, 116-117, 123
investigation, iii-iv
on introducing glyph, 66
on length of great cycle, 108
on Supplementary Series, 152
GOVERNMENT, nature, 12-16
GREAT CYCLE--
length, 135
number of cycles in, 107-114
HAAB (solar year)--
first day, 52-56
glyph, 47
nature, 44-51
position of days in, 48, 52-58
subdivisions, 45
HABITAT OF THE MAYA, 1-2
map, 1
HAIR, method of dressing, 7
HALACH UINIC (chief), powers, 12-13
HAND, used as ending sign, 101-102
HEAD-VARIANT NUMERALS--
antiquity, 73, 102-103
characteristics, 97-103
derivation, 74
discovery, iii
explanation, 24-25, 87, 96-104
forms, 96-104
value, 103
identification, 96-103
parallel to Arabic numerals, 87
plates showing, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179, 180
use of, in time-period glyphs, 67-74, 104
_See also_ FULL-FIGURE GLYPHS.
HEWETT, _Dr._ E. L., cited 164, 192
HIEROGLYPHS--
antiquity, iii, 2
proofs, 173, 175
character, iv, 26-30
classification, 26
decipherment, 23-25, 31, 249-250
errors in interpretation, 154-155
errors in original text, 245-250
methods, 134-155
inversion of significance, 211
mat pattern, 191-194
materials inscribed upon, 22
modifications, 23-25
order of reading, 23, 129, 133, 135, 136-138, 156, 170, 268
original errors, 245-250
progress, iv, 250
symmetry, 23-24, 88-91, 128
textbooks, vii
_See also_ NUMERALS.
HIEROGLYPHS, CLOSING, use, 101-102, 152-153, 170
HIEROGLYPHS, INTRODUCING, use in dating, 64-68
HISTORY--
codices containing, 32-33
dates, 179, 221-222, 228-229, 249-250
decipherment, iv-v, 26, 250
dates only, 249-250
outline, 2-7
recording, methods, 33-36
HODGE, F. W., letter of transmittal, iii-v
HOLMES, W. H., cited, 196
HOSPITALITY, customs, 10
HOTUN PERIOD, 166
HUNTING, division of spoils, 9
IDEOGRAPHIC WRITING, argument for 27-28
IKONOMATIC WRITING, nature 28-29
INITIAL-SERIES DATING--
bar and dot numbers in, examples, 157-167, 176-180
plates showing, 157, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179
disuse, 84-85, 199
examples, interpretation, 157-222, 233-240
plates showing, 157, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179, 180, 187, 188, 191,
207, 210, 213, 218, 220, 233, 235, 248
explanation, 63-74, 147-148
head-variant numbers, examples, 167-176, 180-188
plates showing, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179, 180
introducing glyph, identification by, 136
irregular forms of, examples, 191-194, 203-207
order of reading, 129, 136-138, 170, 268
position of month signs in, 152-154
reference to Long Count, 147-151
regular forms of, interpretation, 157-191
replacement by u kahlay katunob dating, 84-85
starting point, 108, 109, 113-114, 125-126, 136, 159, 162, 203-207
used in codices, 266
examples, 266-273
plate showing, 266
used on monuments, 85
INSCRIPTIONS ON MONUMENTS--
cycles in, numbering, 108-113
date of, contemporaneous, 179, 194, 203, 209-210, 213, 220-222
date of carving, usual, 194
day signs in, 38
errors, 245-250
historical dates, 179
interpretation, 33-35
examples, 156-250
method, 134-155
length of great cycle used in, 107-114
numeration glyphs. _See_ NUMERALS.
_See also_ MONUMENTS; STELÆ.
INTRODUCING GLYPH--
lack, 208
nature, 64-68, 125-127, 136, 157-158
INVERTED GLYPH, meaning, 211
ITZAMNA (god), nature, 16
JUSTICE, rules of, 9
KATUN (time period)--
glyph, 68-69
identification in u kahlay katunob, 79-82
length, 62, 135
monument erected to mark end, 250
naming, 80-82
series of, 79-86
use of, in Period-ending dates, 222-225
{282}
KIN. _See_ DAY.
KUKULCAN (god), nature, 16-17
LABOR, customs, 9
LANDA, BISHOP DIEGO DE--
biography, 7
on Maya alphabet, 27
on Maya calendar, 42, 44, 45, 84
on Maya customs, 7, 13-14, 19
on Maya records, 34, 36
LANDRY, M. D., investigations, 194
LEYDEN PLATE, interpretation, 179, 194-198
LITERATURE, list, xv-xvi
See also BIBLIOGRAPHY.
LONG COUNT--
date fixing in, 147-151, 240-245
nature, 60-63
See also CHRONOLOGY.
MAIZE GOD, nature, 18
MALER, TEOBERT--
cited, 162, 166, 170, 176, 177, 178, 207, 210, 224, 226, 227, 231
on Altar 5 at Tikal, 244
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, description, 7-21
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS, 8-9
MARS-SOLAR PERIOD, relation to tonalamatl, 278
MAT PATTERN OF GLYPHS, 191-194
MAUDSLAY, A. P.--
cited 157, 167, 169, 170, 171, 173, 175, 179, 180, 181, 183, 185, 186,
188, 191, 203, 205, 213, 215, 218, 220, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227,
228, 229, 230, 235, 240, 242
on zero glyph, 93
MAYA, surviving tribes, 1-2
MAYA, SOUTHERN--
cities, 2-4
occupancy of, diagram showing, 15
government, 15-16
rise and fall, 2-4
MAYAPAN (city)--
history, 4-6
mortuary customs, 12
time records, 33-34
MILITARY CUSTOMS, nature 10-11
MINUS SIGN. _See_ BACKWARD SIGN.
MONTH. See UINAL.
MONUMENTS--
age, 249-250
date of erection, 179, 194, 203, 209-210, 213, 220-222
historical dates on, 179
period-marking function, 33-35, 249-250
texts. _See_ INSCRIPTIONS.
_See also_ STELÆ.
MOON, computation of revolutions, 32
MORLEY, S. G., on Books of Chilan Balam, 3
MYTHOLOGY, dates, 179, 180, 194, 228
NACON (official), duties, 13
NAHUA, influence on Maya, 5-6
NARANJO (city)--
antiquity, 15
Stela 22, interpretation, 162-164
Stela 23, error in, 248
interpretation, 224
Stela 24, interpretation, 166-167
Supplementary Series, absence, 163-164
NORMAL DATE, fixing, of 61
NORMAL FORMS OF TIME-PERIOD GLYPHS. _See_ TIME PERIODS.
NORTH STAR, deification, 18
NUMBERS, EXPRESSION--
high, 103-134
thirteen to nineteen, 96, 101, 111-112
NUMERALS--
bar and dot system, 87-95
examples, plates showing, 157, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179
colors, 91, 251
combinations of, for higher numbers, 105-107
forms, 87-104
head-variant forms, 24-25, 87, 96-104
plates showing, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179, 180
one to nineteen, bar and dot forms, 88-90
head-variant forms, 97-101
order of reading, 23, 129, 133, 137-138, 156, 170
ornamental variants, 89-91
parallels to Roman and Arabic systems, 87
solution, 134-155
systems, 87-134
comparison, 133
_See also_ VIGESIMAL SYSTEM.
transcribing, mode 138
_See also_ HIEROGLYPHS; THIRTEEN; TWENTY; ZERO.
NUMERICAL COEFFICIENTS 127-128
PALENQUE (city)--
history, 15
palace stairway inscription, interpretation, 183-185
Temple of the Cross, tablet, interpretation, 205-207, 227
Temple of the Foliated Cross, tablet, interpretation, 180-181, 223-224,
227
Temple of the Inscriptions, tablet, interpretation, 84, 225-226
Temple of the Sun, tablet, interpretation, 181-182
PERIOD-ENDING DATES--
ending glyph, 102
examples, interpretation, 222-240
plates showing, 223, 227, 233, 235
glyphs, 77-79,102
katun used in, 222-225
nature, 222
tun used in, 225-226
PERIOD-MARKING STONES. _See_ MONUMENTS.
PHONETIC WRITING--
argument for, 26-30
traces discovered, iv, 26-30
PIEDRAS NEGRAS (city)--
altar inscription, interpretation, 227
antiquity, 15
Stela 1, interpretation, 210-213
Stela 3, interpretation, 233-235
PLONGEON, F. LE, cited, 27
PONCE, ALONZO, on Maya records, 36
PRIESTHOOD, organization, 20-21
PROPHESYING, codices used for, 31
PROPHETIC DATES--
examples, 229-233
use, 271-272
{283}
QUEN SANTO (city)--
history, 231
Stela 1, interpretation, 199-201
Stela 2, interpretation, 201-203
QUIRIGUA (city)--
Altar M, interpretation, 240-242
five-tun period used at, 165-166
founding of, possible date, 221-222
monuments, 192
Stela A, interpretation, 179-180
Stela C, interpretation, 173-175, 179, 203-204, 226
Supplementary Series, absence, 175
Stela D, interpretation, 239
Stela E, error in, 247-248
interpretation, 235-240
Stela F, interpretation, 218-222, 239-240
plates showing, 218, 220
Stela H, interpretation, 192-194
Stela I, interpretation, 164-166
Stela J, interpretation, 215-218, 239-240
Stela K, interpretation, 213-215
Zoömorph G, interpretation, 186-187, 229-230, 239-240
Zoömorph P, interpretation 157-162
READING, order of, 23, 129, 133, 135, 138, 156, 170, 268
RELIGION, nature, 16-21
RENAISSANCE, commencement, 4
ROCHEFOUCAULD, F. A. DE LA, alphabet devised by, 27
ROMAN SYSTEM OF NUMBERS, parallel, 87
ROSNY, LEON DE, cited, 27
RULERSHIP--
nature, 12-13
succession, 13-14
SCARIFICATION, practice, 7
SCHELLHAS, _Dr._ PAUL, investigations, 265
SCULPTURE, development 2-3
SECONDARY-SERIES DATING--
examples, interpretation, 207-222, 233-240
plates showing, 207, 210, 213, 218, 220, 233, 235
explanation, 74-76, 207
irregular forms, 236
order of reading, 129, 137-138, 208
reference to Initial Series, 209-211, 217-218
starting point, 76, 135-136, 208-210, 218, 240-245
determination, 240-245
SEIBAL (city)--
antiquity, 15
Stela 11, interpretation, 230-231
SELER, _Dr._ EDUARD--
cited, 2, 43, 199
on Aztec calendar, 58
on hieroglyphics, 30
SERPENT NUMBERS--
interpretation, 273-275
nature, 273
range, 32, 273
SLAVES, barter in, 9
SOUTHERN MAYA. _See_ MAYA, SOUTHERN.
SPANISH CONQUEST, influence, 6-7
SPECTACLE GLYPH, function, 94
SPINDEN, _Dr._ H. J.--
cited, 187
works, 4
STELÆ--
character, 22
dates, 33, 83-84
inscriptions on, 22, 33-35
See also MONUMENTS, and names of cities.
STONES, inscriptions on 22
SUPERFIX, effect 120-122
SUPPLEMENTARY SERIES--
closing-sign, 152-153, 170
explanation, 152, 161
lack of, examples, 163-164, 175
position, 152, 238
SYMMETRY IN GLYPHS, modifications due to, 23-24, 88-91, 128
TERMINAL DATES--
determination, 138-151
importance as check on calculations, 154-155
position, 151-154
TEXTBOOKS, need for, vii
THIRTEEN--
glyphs, 96, 205
numbers above, expression, 96, 101, 111-112
THOMAS, _Dr._ CYRUS--
cited, 31
on Maya alphabet, 27
THOMPSON, E. H., investigations 11
TIKAL (city)--
Altar 5, interpretation, 242-245
antiquity, 127
history, 15
Stela 3, importance, 179
interpretation, 178-179
Stela 5, interpretation, 226
Stela 10, interpretation, 114-127
Stela 16, association with Altar 5, 244
interpretation, 224, 244
TIME--
counting backward, 146-147
counting forward, 138-146
glyphs for, only ones deciphered, 26, 31
lapse of, determination, 134-155
expression, 63-64, 105-107
indicated by black glyphs, 251
marked by monuments, 33-35, 249-250
method of describing, 46-48
recording, 33-36
use of numbers, 134
starting point, 60-62, 113-114, 124-125
_See also_ CHRONOLOGY.
TIME-MARKING STONES. _See_ MONUMENTS.
TIME PERIODS--
full-figure glyphs, 67-68, 188-191
plate showing, 188
head-variant glyphs, 67-74
plates showing, 167, 170, 176, 178, 179, 180
length, 62
normal glyphs, 67-74
plate showing, 157
omission of, 128
reduction to days, 134-135
_See also_ CYCLE; GREAT CYCLE; HAAB; KATUN; TONALAMATL; TUN; UINAL.
TONALAMATL (time period)--
graphic representation, 93
interpretation, 254-266
{284}
nature, 41-44, 265
relation to zero sign, 93-94
starting point, 252-253
subdivisions, 44
texts recording, 251-266
essential parts of, 265
use of glyph for "20" with, 92, 130, 254, 260, 263
used in codices, 251-266
plates showing, 254, 260, 262, 263
used in divination, 251
wheel of days, 43
_See also_ YEAR, SACRED.
TRANSLATION OF GLYPHS--
errors, 154-155
methods, 134-155
progress, 250
TUN (time period)--
glyph, 70
length, 62, 135
use of, in Period-ending dates, 225-226
TUXTLA STATUETTE, interpretation, 179, 194-196
TWENTY--
glyphs, 91-92, 130
need for, in codices, 92, 130
needlessness of, in inscriptions, 92
use of in, 254, 260, 263
UINAL--
days, 42
first day, 53
glyph, 94
glyph, 70-71
length, 45, 62, 135
list, 45
names and glyphs for, 48-51
U KAHLAY KATUNOB DATING--
accuracy, 82
antiquity, 82-85
explanation, 79-86
katun sequence, 80-82
order of reading, 137
replacement of Initial-series dating by, 84-86
UXMAL (city), founding, 4
VENUS-SOLAR PERIOD--
divisions, 31-32
relation to tonalamatl, 32, 277-278
VIGESIMAL NUMERATION--
discovery, iii
explanation, 62-63, 105-134
possible origin, 41
used in codices, 266-273
VILLAGUTIERE, S. J., on Maya records, 36
WAR GOD, nature, 17
WEAPONS, character, 10-11
WORLD, destruction, prophecy, 32
WORLD EPOCH, glyph, 125-127
WORSHIP, practices, 19-20
WRITING. _See_ HIEROGLYPHICS; NUMERALS; READING.
XAMAN EK (god), nature 18
YAXCHILAN (city)--
lintel, error in, 245-246
Lintel 21, interpretation, 207-210
Stela 11, interpretation, 176-177
Structure 44, interpretation, 177-178
YEAR, SACRED, use in divination, 251
_See also_ TONALAMATL.
YEAR, SOLAR. _See_ HAAB.
YUCATAN--
colonization, 3-4
Spanish conquest, 6-7
water supply, 1
YUM KAAX (god), nature. 18
ZERO--
glyphs, 92-95, 101-102
origin, 93-94
variants, 93
* * * * *
NOTES
[1] All things considered, the Maya may be regarded as having developed
probably the highest aboriginal civilization in the Western Hemisphere,
although it should be borne in mind that they were surpassed in many lines
of endeavor by other races. The Inca, for example, excelled them in the
arts of weaving and dyeing, the Chiriqui in metal working, and the Aztec in
military proficiency.
[2] The correlation of Maya and Christian chronology herein followed is
that suggested by the writer in "The Correlation of Maya and Christian
Chronology" (_Papers of the School of American Archæology_, No. 11). See
Morley, 1910 b, cited in BIBLIOGRAPHY, pp. XV, XVI. There are at least six
other systems of correlation, however, on which the student must pass
judgment. Although no two of these agree, all are based on data derived
from the same source, namely, the Books of Chilan Balam (see p. 3, footnote
1). The differences among them are due to the varying interpretations of
the material therein presented. Some of the systems of correlation which
have been proposed, besides that of the writer, are:
1. That of Mr. C. P. Bowditch (1901 a), found in his pamphlet entitled
"Memoranda on the Maya Calendars used in The Books of Chilan Balam."
2. That of Prof. Eduard Seler (1902-1908: I, pp. 588-599). See also
_Bulletin 28_, p. 330.
3. That of Mr. J. T. Goodman (1905).
4. That of Pio Perez, in Stephen's Incidents of Travel in Yucatan (1843: I,
pp. 434-459; II, pp. 465-469) and in Landa, 1864: pp. 366-429.
As before noted, these correlations differ greatly from one another,
Professor Seler assigning the most remote dates to the southern cities and
Mr. Goodman the most recent. The correlations of Mr. Bowditch and the
writer are within 260 years of each other. Before accepting any one of the
systems of correlation above mentioned, the student is strongly urged to
examine with care The Books of Chilan Balam.
[3] It is probable that at this early date Yucatan had not been discovered,
or at least not colonized.
[4] This evidence is presented by The Books of Chilan Balam, "which were
copied or compiled in Yucatan by natives during the sixteenth, seventeenth,
and eighteenth centuries, from much older manuscripts now lost or
destroyed. They are written in the Maya language in Latin characters, and
treat, in part at least, of the history of the country before the Spanish
Conquest. Each town seems to have had its own book of Chilan Balam,
distinguished from others by the addition of the name of the place where it
was written, as: The Book of Chilan Balam of Mani, The Book of Chilan Balam
of Tizimia, and so on. Although much of the material presented in these
manuscripts is apparently contradictory and obscure, their importance as
original historical sources can not be overestimated, since they constitute
the only native accounts of the early history of the Maya race which have
survived the vandalism of the Spanish Conquerors. Of the sixteen Books of
Chilan Balam now extant, only three, those of the towns of Mani, Tizimin,
and Chumayel, contain historical matter. These have been translated into
English, and published by Dr. D. G. Brinton [1882 b] under the title of
"The Maya Chronicles." This translation with a few corrections has been
freely consulted in the following discussion."--MORLEY, 1910 b: p. 193.
Although The Books of Chilan Balam are in all probability authentic sources
for the reconstruction of Maya history, they can hardly be considered
contemporaneous since, as above explained, they emanate from post-Conquest
times. The most that can be claimed for them in this connection is that the
documents from which they were copied were probably aboriginal, and
contemporaneous, or approximately so, with the later periods of the history
which they record.
[5] As will appear later, on the calendric side the old system of counting
time and of recording events gave place to a more abbreviated though less
accurate chronology. In architecture and art also the change of environment
made itself felt, and in other lines as well the new land cast a strong
influence over Maya thought and achievement. In his work entitled "A Study
of Maya Art, its Subject Matter and Historical Development" (1913), to
which students are referred for further information, Dr. H. J. Spinden has
treated this subject extensively.
[6] The confederation of these three Maya cities may have served as a model
for the three Nahua cities, Tenochtitlan, Tezcuco, and Tlacopan, when they
entered into a similar alliance some four centuries later.
[7] By Nahua is here meant the peoples who inhabited the valley of Mexico
and adjacent territory at this time.
[8] The Ball Court, a characteristically Nahua development.
[9] One authority (Landa, 1864: p. 48) says in this connection: "The
governor, Cocom--the ruler of Mayapan--began to covet riches; and for this
purpose he treated with the people of the garrison, which the kings of
Mexico had in Tabasco and Xicalango, that he should deliver his city [i. e.
Mayapan] to them; and thus he brought the Mexican people to Mayapan and he
oppressed the poor and made many slaves, and the lords would have killed
him if they had not been afraid of the Mexicans."
[10] The first appearance of the Spaniards in Yucatan was six years earlier
(in 1511), when the caravel of Valdivia, returning from the Isthmus of
Darien to Hispaniola, foundered near Jamaica. About 10 survivors in an open
boat were driven upon the coast of Yucatan near the Island of Cozumel. Here
they were made prisoners by the Maya and five, including Valdivia himself,
were sacrificed. The remainder escaped only to die of starvation and
hardship, with the exception of two, Geronimo de Aguilar and Gonzalo
Guerrero. Both of these men had risen to considerable prominence in the
country by the time Cortez arrived eight years later. Guerrero had married
a chief's daughter and had himself become a chief. Later Aguilar became an
interpreter for Cortez. This handful of Spaniards can hardly be called an
expedition, however.
[11] Diego de Landa, second bishop of Merida, whose remarkable book
entitled "Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan" is the chief authority for the
facts presented in the following discussion of the manners and customs of
the Maya, was born in Cifuentes de l'Alcarria, Spain, in 1524. At the age
of 17 he joined the Franciscan order. He came to Yucatan during the decade
following the close of the Conquest, in 1549, where he was one of the most
zealous of the early missionaries. In 1573 he was appointed bishop of
Merida, which position he held until his death in 1579. His priceless
_Relacion_, written about 1565, was not printed until three centuries
later, when it was discovered by the indefatigable Abbé Brasseur de
Bourbourg in the library of the Royal Academy of History at Madrid, and
published by him in 1864. The _Relacion_ is the standard authority for the
customs prevalent in Yucatan at the time of the Conquest, and is an
invaluable aid to the student of Maya archeology. What little we know of
the Maya calendar has been derived directly from the pages of this book, or
by developing the material therein presented.
[12] The excavations of Mr. E. H. Thompson at Labna, Yucatan, and of Dr.
Merwin at Holmul, Guatemala, have confirmed Bishop Landa's statement
concerning the disposal of the dead. At Labna bodies were found buried
beneath the floors of the buildings, and at Holmul not only beneath the
floors but also lying on them.
[13] Examples of this type of burial have been found at Chichen Itza and
Mayapan in Yucatan. At the former site Mr. E. H. Thompson found in the
center of a large pyramid a stone-lined shaft running from the summit into
the ground. This was filled with burials and funeral objects--pearls,
coral, and jade, which from their precious nature indicated the remains of
important personages. At Mayapan, burials were found in a shaft of similar
construction and location in one of the pyramids.
[14] Landa, 1864: p. 137.
[15] As the result of a trip to the Maya field in the winter of 1914, the
writer made important discoveries in the chronology of Tikal, Naranjo,
Piedras Negras, Altar de Sacrificios, Quirigua, and Seibal. The occupancy
of Tikal and Seibal was found to have extended to 10.2.0.0.0; of Piedras
Negras to 9.18.5.0.0; of Naranjo to 9.19.10.0.0; and of Altar de
Sacrificios to 9.14.0.0.0. (This new material is not embodied in pl. 2.)
[16] As will be explained in chapter V, the writer has suggested the name
_hotun_ for the 5 tun, or 1,800 day, period.
[17] Succession in the Aztec royal house was not determined by
primogeniture, though the supreme office, the _tlahtouani_, as well as the
other high offices of state, was hereditary in one family. On the death of
the tlahtouani the electors (four in number) seem to have selected his
successor from among his brothers, or, these failing, from among his
nephews. Except as limiting the succession to one family, primogeniture
does not seem to have obtained; for example, Moctezoma (Montezuma) was
chosen tlahtouani over the heads of several of his older brothers because
he was thought to have the best qualifications for that exalted office. The
situation may be summarized by the statement that while the supreme ruler
among the Aztec had to be of the "blood royal," his selection was
determined by personal merit rather than by primogeniture.
[18] There can be no doubt that Förstemann has identified the sign for the
planet Venus and possibly a few others. (See Förstemann, 1906: p. 116.)
[19] Brasseur de Bourbourg, the "discoverer" of Landa's manuscript, added
several signs of his own invention to the original Landa alphabet. See his
introduction to the Codex Troano published by the French Government. Leon
de Rosny published an alphabet of 29 letters with numerous variants. Later
Dr. F. Le Plongeon defined 23 letters with variants and made elaborate
interpretations of the texts with this "alphabet" as his key. Another
alphabet was that proposed by Dr. Hilborne T. Cresson, which included
syllables as well as letters, and with which its originator also essayed to
read the texts. Scarce worthy of mention are the alphabet and volume of
interlinear translations from both the inscriptions and the codices
published by F. A. de la Rochefoucauld. This is very fantastic and utterly
without value unless, as Doctor Brinton says, it be taken "as a warning
against the intellectual aberrations to which students of these ancient
mysteries seem peculiarly prone." The late Dr. Cyrus Thomas, of the Bureau
of American Ethnology, was the last of those who endeavored to interpret
the Maya texts by means of alphabets; though he was perhaps the best of
them all, much of his work in this particular respect will not stand.
[20] Thus the whole rebus in figure 14 reads: "Eye bee leaf ant rose can
well bear awl four ewe." These words may be replaced by their homophones as
follows: "I believe Aunt Rose can well bear all for you."
Rebus writing depends on the principle of homophones; that is, words or
characters which sound alike but have different meanings.
[21] The period of the synodical revolution of Venus as computed to-day is
583.920 days.
[22] According to modern calculations, the period of the lunar revolution
is 29.530588, or approximately 29½ days. For 405 revolutions the
accumulated error would be .03×405=12.15 days. This error the Maya obviated
by using 29.5 in some calculations and 29.6 in others, the latter
offsetting the former. Thus the first 17 revolutions of the sequence are
divided into three groups; the first 6 revolutions being computed at 29.5,
each giving a total of 177 days; and the second 6 revolutions also being
computed at 29.5 each, giving a total of another 177 days. The third group
of 5 revolutions, however, was computed at 29.6 each, giving a total of 148
days. The total number of days in the first 17 revolutions was thus
computed to be 177+177+147=502, which is very close to the time computed by
modern calculations, 502.02.
[23] This is the tropical year or the time from one equinox to its return.
[24] Landa, 1864: p. 52.
[25] Cogolludo, 1688: I, lib. IV, V, p. 186.
[26] For example, if the revolution of Venus had been the governing
phenomenon, each monument would be distant from some other by 584 days; if
that of Mars, 780 days; if that of Mercury, 115 or 116 days, etc.
Furthermore, the sequence, once commenced, would naturally have been more
or less uninterrupted. It is hardly necessary to repeat that the intervals
which have been found, namely, 7200 and 1800, rest on no known astronomical
phenomena but are the direct result of the Maya vigesimal system of
numeration.
[27] It is possible that the Codex Peresianus may treat of historical
matter, as already explained.
[28] Since the sequence of the twenty day names was continuous, it is
obvious that it had no beginning or ending, like the rim of a wheel;
consequently any day name may be chosen arbitrarily as the starting point.
In the accompanying Kan has been chosen to begin with, though Bishop Landa
(p. 236) states with regard to the Maya: "The character or letter with
which they commence their count of the days or calendar is called Hun-ymix
[i. e. 1 Imix]". Again, "Here commences the count of the calendar of the
Indians, saying in their language Hun Imix (*) [i. e. 1 Imix]." (Ibid., p.
246.)
[29] Professor Seler says the Maya of Guatemala called this period the _kin
katun_, or "order of the days." He fails to give his authority for this
statement, however, and, as will appear later, these terms have entirely
different meanings. (See _Bulletin 28_, p. 14.)
[30] As Bishop Landa wrote not later than 1579, this is Old Style. The
corresponding day in the Gregorian Calendar would be July 27.
[31] This is probably to be accounted for by the fact that in the Maya
system of chronology, as we shall see later, the 365-day year was not used
in recording time. But that so fundamental a period had therefore no
special glyph does not necessarily follow, and the writer believes the sign
for the haab will yet be discovered.
[32] Later researches of the writer (1914) have convinced him that figure
19, _c_, is not a sign for Uo, but a very unusual variant of the sign for
Zip, found only at Copan, and there only on monuments belonging to the
final period.
[33] The writer was able to prove during his last trip to the Maya field
that figure 19, _f_, is not a sign for the month Zotz, as suggested by Mr.
Bowditch, but a very unusual form representing Kankin. This identification
is supported by a number of examples at Piedras Negras.
[34] The meanings of these words in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the
Aztec, are "year bundle" and "our years will be bound," respectively. These
doubtless refer to the fact that at the expiration of this period the Aztec
calendar had made one complete round; that is, the years were bound up and
commenced anew.
[35] _Bulletin 28_, p. 330.
[36] All Initial Series now known, with the exception of two, have the date
4 Ahau 8 Cumhu as their common point of departure. The two exceptions, the
Initial Series on the east side of Stela C at Quirigua and the one on the
tablet in the Temple of the Cross at Palenque, proceed from the date 4 Ahau
8 Zotz--more than 5,000 years in advance of the starting point just named.
The writer has no suggestions to offer in explanation of these two dates
other than that he believes they refer to some mythological event. For
instance, in the belief of the Maya the gods may have been born on the day
4 Ahau 8 Zotz, and 5,000 years later approximately on 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu the
world, including mankind, may have been created.
[37] Some writers have called the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu, the normal date,
probably because it is the standard date from which practically all Maya
calculations proceed. The writer has not followed this practice, however.
[38] That is, dates which signified present time when they were recorded.
[39] This statement does not take account of the Tuxtla Statuette and the
Holactun Initial Series, which extend the range of the dated monuments to
ten centuries.
[40] For the discussion of the number of cycles in a great cycle, a
question concerning which there are two different opinions, see pp. 107 et
seq.
[41] There are only two known exceptions to this statement, namely, the
Initial Series on the Temple of the Cross at Palenque and that on the east
side of Stela C at Quirigua, already noted.
[42] Mr. Bowditch (1910: App. VIII, 310-18) discusses the possible meanings
of this element.
[43] For explanation of the term "full-figure glyphs," see p. 67.
[44] See the discussion of Serpent numbers in Chapter VI.
[45] These three inscriptions are found on Stela N, west side, at Copan,
the tablet of the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque, and Stela 10 at
Tikal. For the discussion of these inscriptions, see pp. 114-127.
[46] The discussion of glyphs which may represent the great cycle or period
of the 6th order will be presented on pp. 114-127 in connection with the
discussion of numbers having six or more orders of units.
[47] The figure on Zoömorph B at Quirigua, however, has a normal human head
without grotesque characteristics.
[48] The full-figure glyphs are included with the head variants in this
proportion.
[49] Any system of counting time which describes a date in such a manner
that it can not recur, satisfying all the necessary conditions, for 374,400
years, must be regarded as absolutely accurate in so far as the range of
human life on this planet is concerned.
[50] There are a very few monuments which have two Initial Series instead
of one. So far as the writer knows, only six monuments in the entire Maya
area present this feature, namely, Stelæ F, D, E, and A at Quirigua, Stela
17 at Tikal, and Stela 11 at Yaxchilan.
[51] Refer to p. 64 and figure 23. It will be noted that the third tooth
(i. e. day) after the one named 7 Akbal 11 Cumhu is 10 Cimi 14 Cumhu.
[52] This method of dating does not seem to have been used with either
uinal or kin period endings, probably because of the comparative frequency
with which any given date might occur at the end of either of these two
periods.
[53] In Chapter IV it will be shown that two bars stand for the number 10.
It will be necessary to anticipate the discussion of Maya numerals there
presented to the extent of stating that a bar represented 5 and a dot or
ball, 1. The varying combinations of these two elements gave the values up
to 20.
[54] The u kahlay katunob on which the historical summary given in Chapter
I is based shows an absolutely uninterrupted sequence of katuns for more
than 1,100 years. See Brinton (1882 b: pp. 152-164). It is necessary to
note here a correction on p. 153 of that work. Doctor Brinton has omitted a
Katun 8 Ahau from this u kahlay katunob, which is present in the Berendt
copy, and he has incorrectly assigned the abandonment of Chichen Itza to
the preceding katun, Katun 10 Ahau, whereas the Berendt copy shows this
event took place during the katun omitted, Katun 8 Ahau.
[55] There are, of course, a few exceptions to this rule--that is, there
are some monuments which indicate an interval of more than 3,000 years
between the extreme dates. In such cases, however, this interval is not
divided into katuns, nor in fact into any regularly recurring smaller unit,
with the single exception mentioned in footnote 1, p. 84.
[56] On one monument, the tablet from the Temple of the Inscriptions at
Palenque, there seems to be recorded a kind of u kahlay katunob; at least,
there is a sequence of ten consecutive katuns.
[57] The word "numeral," as used here, has been restricted to the first
twenty numbers, 0 to 19, inclusive.
[58] See p. 96, footnote 1.
[59] In one case, on the west side of Stela E at Quirigua, the number 14 is
also shown with an ornamental element (). This is very unusual and, so far
as the writer knows, is the only example of its kind. The four dots in the
numbers 4, 9, 14, and 19 never appear thus separated in any other text
known.
[60] In the examples given the numerical coefficients are attached as
prefixes to the katun sign. Frequently, however, they occur as superfixes.
In such cases, however, the above observations apply equally well.
[61] Care should be taken to distinguish the number or figure 20 from any
period which contained 20 periods of the order next below it; otherwise the
uinal, katun, and cycle glyphs could all be construed as signs for 20,
since each of these periods contains 20 units of the period next lower.
[62] The Maya numbered by relative position from bottom to top, as will be
presently explained.
[63] This form of zero is always red and is used with black bar and dot
numerals as well as with red in the codices.
[64] It is interesting to note in this connection that the Zapotec made use
of the same outline in graphic representations of the tonalamatl. On page 1
of the Zapotec Codex Féjerváry-Mayer an outline formed by the 260 days of
the tonalamatl exactly like the one in fig. 48, _a_, is shown.
[65] This form of zero has been found only in the Dresden Codex. Its
absence from the other two codices is doubtless due to the fact that the
month glyphs are recorded only a very few times in them--but once in the
Codex Tro-Cortesiano and three times in the Codex Peresianus.
[66] The forms shown attached to these numerals are those of the day and
month signs (see figs. 16, 17, and 19, 20, respectively), and of the period
glyphs (see figs. 25-35, inclusive). Reference to these figures will
explain the English translation in the case of any form which the student
may not remember.
[67] The following possible exceptions, however, should be noted: In the
Codex Peresianus the normal form of the tun sign sometimes occurs attached
to varying heads, as (). Whether these heads denote numerals is unknown,
but the construction of this glyph in such cases (a head attached to the
sign of a time period) absolutely parallels the use of head-variant
numerals with time-period glyphs in the inscriptions. A much stronger
example of the possible use of head numerals with period glyphs in the
codices, however, is found in the Dresden Codex. Here the accompanying head
() is almost surely that for the number 16, the hatchet eye denoting 6 and
the fleshless lower jaw 10. Compare (+) with fig. 53, _f-i_, where the head
for 16 is shown. The glyph () here shown is the normal form for the kin
sign. Compare fig. 34, b. The meaning of these two forms would thus seem to
be 16 kins. In the passage in which these glyphs occur the glyph next
preceding the head for 16 is "8 tuns," the numerical coefficient 8 being
expressed by one bar and three dots. It seems reasonably clear here,
therefore, that the form in question is a head numeral. However, these
cases are so very rare and the context where they occur is so little
understood, that they have been excluded in the general consideration of
head-variant numerals presented above.
[68] It will appear presently that the number 13 could be expressed in two
different ways: (1) by a special head meaning 13, and (2) by the essential
characteristic of the head for 10 applied to the head for 3 (i. e., 10 + 3
= 13).
[69] For the discussion of Initial Series in cycles other than Cycle 9, see
pp. 194-207.
[70] The subfixial element in the first three forms of fig. 54 does not
seem to be essential, since it is wanting in the last.
[71] As previously explained, the number 20 is used only in the codices and
there only in connection with tonalamatls.
[72] Whether the Maya used their numerical system in the inscriptions and
codices for counting anything besides time is not known. As used in the
texts, the numbers occur only in connection with calendric matters, at
least in so far as they have been deciphered. It is true many numbers are
found in both the inscriptions and codices which are attached to signs of
unknown meaning, and it is possible that these may have nothing to do with
the calendar. An enumeration of cities or towns, or of tribute rolls, for
example, may be recorded in some of these places. Both of these subjects
are treated of in the Aztec manuscripts and may well be present in Maya
texts.
[73] The numerals and periods given in fig. 56 are expressed by their
normal forms in every case, since these may be more readily recognized than
the corresponding head variants, and consequently entail less work for the
student. It should be borne in mind, however, that any bar and dot numeral
or any period in fig. 56 could be expressed equally well by its
corresponding head form without affecting in the least the values of the
resulting numbers.
[74] There may be three other numbers in the inscriptions which are
considerably higher (see pp. 114-127).
[75] These are: (1) The tablet from the Temple of the Cross at Palenque;
(2) Altar 1 at Piedras Negras; and (3) The east side of Stela C at
Quirigua.
[76] This case occurs on the tablet from the Temple of the Foliated Cross
at Palenque.
[77] It seems probable that the number on the north side of Stela C at
Copan was not counted from the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu. The writer has not been
able to satisfy himself, however, that this number is an Initial Series.
[78] Mr. Bowditch (1910: pp. 41-42) notes a seeming exception to this, not
in the inscription, however, but in the Dresden Codex, in which, in a
series of numbers on pp. 71-73, the number 390 is written 19 uinals and 10
kins, instead of 1 tun, 1 uinal, and 10 kins.
[79] That it was a Cycle 13 is shown from the fact that it was just 13
cycles in advance of Cycle 13 ending on the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu.
[80] See p. 156 and fig. 66 for method of designating the individual glyphs
in a text.
[81] The kins are missing from this number (see A9, fig. 60). At the
maximum, however, they could increase this large number only by 19. They
have been used here as at 0.
[82] As will be explained presently, the kin sign is frequently omitted and
its coefficient attached to the uinal glyph. See p. 127.
[83] Glyph A9 is missing but undoubtedly was the kin sign and coefficient.
[84] The lowest period, the kin, is missing. See A9, fig. 60.
[85] The use of the word "generally" seems reasonable here; these three
texts come from widely separated centers--Copan in the extreme southeast,
Palenque in the extreme west, and Tikal in the central part of the area.
[86] A few exceptions to this have been noted on pp. 127, 128.
[87] The Books of Chilan Balam have been included here as they are also
expressions of the native Maya mind.
[88] This excludes, of course, the use of the numerals 1 to 13, inclusive,
in the day names, and in the numeration of the cycles; also the numerals 0
to 19, inclusive, when used to denote the positions of the days in the
divisions of the year, and the position of any period in the division next
higher.
[89] Various methods and tables have been devised to avoid the necessity of
reducing the higher terms of Maya numbers to units of the first order. Of
the former, that suggested by Mr. Bowditch (1910: pp. 302-309) is probably
the most serviceable. Of the tables Mr. Goodman's Archæic Annual Calendar
and Archæic Chronological Calendar (1897) are by far the best. By using
either of the above the necessity of reducing the higher terms to units of
the first order is obviated. On the other hand, the processes by means of
which this is achieved in each case are far more complicated and less easy
of comprehension than those of the method followed in this book, a method
which from its simplicity might be termed perhaps the logical way, since it
reduces all quantities to a primary unit, which is the same as the primary
unit of the Maya calendar. This method was first devised by Prof. Ernst
Förstemann, and has the advantage of being the most readily understood by
the beginner, sufficient reason for its use in this book.
[90] This number is formed on the basis of 20 cycles to a great cycle
(20×144,000=2,880,000). The writer assumes that he has established the fact
that 20 cycles were required to make 1 great cycle, in the inscriptions as
well as in the codices.
[91] This is true in spite of the fact that in the codices the starting
points frequently appear to follow--that is, they stand below--the numbers
which are counted from them. In reality such cases are perfectly regular
and conform to this rule, because there the order is not from top to bottom
but from bottom to top, and, therefore, when read in this direction the
dates come first.
[92] These intervening glyphs the writer believes, as stated in Chapter II,
are those which tell the real story of the inscriptions.
[93] Only two exceptions to this rule have been noted throughout the Maya
territory: (1) The Initial Series on the east side of Stela C at Quirigua,
and (2) the tablet from the Temple of the Cross at Palenque. It has been
explained that both of these Initial Series are counted from the date 4
Ahau 8 Zotz.
[94] In the inscriptions an Initial Series may always be identified by the
so-called introducing glyph (see fig. 24) which invariably precedes it.
[95] Professor Förstemann has pointed out a few cases in the Dresden Codex
in which, although the count is backward, the special character indicating
the fact is wanting (fig. 64). (See _Bulletin_ 28, p. 401.)
[96] There are a few cases in which the "backward sign" includes also the
numeral in the second position.
[97] In the text wherein this number is found the date 4 Ahau 8 Camhu
stands below the lowest term.
[98] It should be noted here that in the _u kahlay katunob_ also, from the
Books of Chilan Balam, the count is always forward.
[99] For transcribing the Maya numerical notation into the characters of
our own Arabic notation Maya students have adopted the practice of writing
the various terms from left to right in a _descending_ series, as the units
of our decimal system are written. For example, 4 katuns, 8 tuns, 3 uinals,
and 1 kin are written 4.8.3.1; and 9 cycles, 16 katuns, 1 tun, 0 uinal, and
0 kins are written 9.16.1.0.0. According to this method, the highest term
in each number is written on the left, the next lower on its right, the
next lower on the right of that, and so on down through the units of the
first, or lowest, order. This notation is very convenient for transcribing
the Maya numbers and will be followed hereafter.
[100] The reason for rejecting all parts of the quotient except the
numerator of the fractional part is that this part alone shows the actual
number of units which have to be counted either forward or backward, as the
count may be, in order to reach the number which exactly uses up or
finishes the dividend--the last unit of the number which has to be counted.
[101] The student can prove this point for himself by turning to the
tonalamatl wheel in pl. 5; after selecting any particular day, as 1 Ik for
example, proceed to count 260 days from this day as a starting point, in
either direction around the wheel. No matter in which direction he has
counted, whether beginning with 13 Imix or 2 Akbal, the 260th day will be 1
Ik again.
[102] The student may prove this for himself by reducing 9.0.0.0.0 to days
(1,296,000), and counting forward this number from the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu,
as described in the rules on pages 138-143. The terminal date reached will
be 8 Ahau 13 Ceh, as given above.
[103] Numbers may also be added to or subtracted from Period-ending dates,
since the positions of such dates are also fixed in the Long Count, and
consequently may be used as bases of reference for dates whose positions in
the Long Count are not recorded.
[104] In adding two Maya numbers, for example 9.12.2.0.16 and 12.9.5, care
should be taken first to arrange like units under like, as:
9.12. 2. 0.16
12. 9. 5
-------------
9.12.14.10. 1
Next, beginning at the right, the kins or units of the 1st place are added
together, and after all the 20s (here 1) have been deducted from this sum,
place the remainder (here 1) in the kin place. Next add the uinals, or
units of the 2d place, adding to them 1 for each 20 which was carried
forward from the 1st place. After all the 18s possible have been deducted
from this sum (here 0) place the remainder (here 10) in the uinal place.
Next add the tuns, or units of the 3d place, adding to them 1 for each 18
which was carried forward from the 2d place, and after deducting all the
20s possible (here 0) place the remainder (here 14) in the tun place.
Proceed in this manner until the highest units present have been added and
written below.
Subtraction is just the reverse of the preceding. Using the same numbers:
9.12. 2.0.16
12.9. 5
------------
9.11. 9.9.11
5 kins from 16 = 11; 9 uinals from 18 uinals (1 tun has to be borrowed) =
9; 12 tuns from 21 tuns (1 katun has to be borrowed, which, added to the 1
tun left in the minuend, makes 21 tuns) = 9 tuns; 0 katuns from 11 katuns
(1 katun having been borrowed) = 11 katuns; and 0 cycles from 9 cycles = 9
cycles.
[105] The Supplementary Series present perhaps the most promising field for
future study and investigation in the Maya texts. They clearly have to do
with a numerical count of some kind, which of itself should greatly
facilitate progress in their interpretation. Mr. Goodman (1897: p. 118) has
suggested that in some way the Supplementary Series record the dates of the
Initial Series they accompany according to some other and unknown method,
though he offers no proof in support of this hypothesis. Mr. Bowditch
(1910: p. 244) believes they probably relate to time, because the glyphs of
which they are composed have numbers attached to them. He has suggested the
name Supplementary Series by which they are known, implying in the
designation that these Series in some way supplement or complete the
meaning of the Initial Series with which they are so closely connected. The
writer believes that they treat of some lunar count. It seems almost
certain that the moon glyph occurs repeatedly in the Supplementary Series
(see fig. 65).
[106] The word "closing" as used here means only that in reading from left
to right and from top to bottom--that is, in the normal order--the sign
shown in fig. 65 is always the last one in the Supplementary Series,
usually standing immediately before the month glyph of the Initial-series
terminal date. It does not signify, however, that the Supplementary Series
were to be read in this direction, and, indeed, there are strong
indications that they followed the reverse order, from right to left and
bottom to top.
[107] In a few cases the sign shown in fig. 65 occurs elsewhere in the
Supplementary Series than as its "closing" glyph. In such cases its
coefficient is not restricted to the number 9 or 10.
[108] In the codices frequently the month parts of dates are omitted and
starting points and terminal dates alike are expressed as days only; thus,
2 Ahau, 5 Imix, 7 Kan, etc. This is nearly always the case in tonalamatls
and in certain series of numbers in the Dresden Codex.
[109] Only a very few month signs seem to be recorded in the Codex
Tro-Cortesiano and the Codex Peresianus. The Tro-Cortesiano has only one
(p. 73b), in which the date 13 Ahau 13 Cumhu is recorded thus (). Compare
the month form in this date with fig. 20, _z-b'_. Mr. Gates (1910: p. 21)
finds three month signs in the Codex Peresianus, on pp. 4, 7, and 18 at
4c7, 7c2, and 18b4, respectively. The first of these is 16 Zac (). Compare
this form with fig. 20, _o_. The second is 1 Yaxkin (+). Compare this form
with fig. 20, _i-j_. The third is 12 Cumhu (++); see fig. 20, _z-b'_.
[110] As used throughout this work, the word "inscriptions" is applied only
to texts from the monuments.
[111] The term glyph-block has been used instead of glyph in this
connection because in many inscriptions several different glyphs are
included in one glyph-block. In such cases, however, the glyphs within the
glyph-block follow precisely the same order as the glyph-blocks themselves
follow in the pairs of columns, that is, from left to right and top to
bottom.
[112] Initial Series which have all their period glyphs expressed by normal
forms are comparatively rare; consequently the four examples presented in
pl. 6, although they are the best of their kind, leave something to be
desired in other ways. In pl. 6, _A_, for example, the month sign was
partially effaced though it is restored in the accompanying reproduction;
in _B_ of the same plate the closing glyph of the Supplementary Series (the
month-sign indicator) is wanting, although the month sign itself is very
clear. Again, in _D_ the details of the day glyph and month glyph are
partially effaced (restored in the reproduction), and in _C_, although the
entire text is very clear, the month sign of the terminal date irregularly
follows immediately the day sign. However, in spite of these slight
irregularities, it has seemed best to present these particular texts as the
first examples of Initial Series, because their period glyphs are expressed
by normal forms exclusively, which, as pointed out above, are more easily
recognized on account of their greater differentiation than the
corresponding head variants.
[113] In most of the examples presented in this chapter the full
inscription is not shown, only that part of the text illustrating the
particular point in question being given. For this reason reference will be
made in each case to the publication in which the entire inscription has
been reproduced. The full text on Zoömorph P at Quirigua will be found in
Maudslay, 1889-1902: II, pls. 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 63, 64.
[114] All glyphs expressed in this way are to be understood as inclusive.
Thus A1-B2 signifies 4 glyphs, namely, A1, B1, A2, B2,
[115] The introducing glyph, so far as the writer knows, always stands at
the beginning of an inscription, or in the second glyph-block, that is, at
the top. Hence an Initial Series can never precede it.
[116] The Initial Series on Stela 10 at Tikal is the only exception known.
See pp. 123-127.
[117] As will appear in the following examples, nearly all Initial Series
have 9 as their cycle coefficient.
[118] In the present case therefore so far as these calculations are
concerned, 3,900 is the equivalent of 1,427,400.
[119] It should be remembered in this connection, as explained on pp. 47,
55, that the positions in the divisions of the year which the Maya called
3, 8, 13, and 18 correspond in our method of naming the positions of the
days in the months to the 4th, 9th, 14th, and 19th positions, respectively.
[120] As stated in footnote 1, p. 152, the meaning of the Supplementary
Series has not yet been worked out.
[121] The reasons which have led the writer to this conclusion are given at
some length on pp. 33-36.
[122] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1908 b: pl. 36.
[123] Since nothing but Initial-series texts will be presented in the
plates and figures immediately following, a fact which the student will
readily detect by the presence of the introducing glyph at the head of each
text, it is unnecessary to repeat for each new text step 2 (p. 135) and
step 3 (p. 136), which explain how to determine the starting point of the
count and the direction of the count, respectively; and the student may
assume that the starting point of the several Initial Series hereinafter
figured will always be the date 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu and that the direction of
the count will always be forward.
[124] As will appear later, in connection with the discussion of the
Secondary Series, the Initial-series date of a monument does not always
correspond with the ending date of the period whose close the monument
marks. In other words, the Initial-series date is not always the date
contemporaneous with the formal dedication of the monument as a
time-marker. This point will appear much more clearly when the function of
Secondary Series has been explained.
[125] For the full text of this inscription see Hewett, 1911: pl. XXXV _C_.
[126] So far as the writer knows, the existence of a period containing 5
tuns has not been suggested heretofore. The very general practice of
closing inscriptions with the end of some particular 5-tun period in the
Long Count, as 9.18.5.0.0, or 9.18.10.0.0, or 9.18.15.0.0, or 9.19.0.0.0,
for example, seems to indicate that this period was the unit used for
measuring time in Maya chronological records, at least in the southern
cities. Consequently, it seems likely that there was a special glyph to
express this unit.
[127] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1908 b: pl. 39.
[128] The student should note that from this point steps 2 (p. 139) and 3
(p. 140) have been omitted in discussing each text (see p. 162, footnote
3).
[129] In each of the above cases--and, indeed, in all the examples
following--the student should perform the various calculations by which the
results are reached, in order to familiarize himself with the workings of
the Maya chronological system.
[130] The student may apply a check at this point to his identification of
the day sign in A4 as being that for the day Eb. Since the month
coefficient in A7 is surely 10 (2 bars), it is clear from Table VII that
the only days which can occupy this position in any division of the year
are Ik, Manik, Eb, and Caban. Now, by comparing the sign in A4 with the
signs for Ik, Manik, and Caban, _c, j_, and _a', b'_, respectively, of fig.
16, it is very evident that A4 bears no resemblance to any of them; hence,
since Eb is the only one left which can occupy a position 10, the day sign
in A4 must be Eb, a fact supported by the comparison of A4 with fig. 16,
_s-u_, above.
[131] The full text of this inscription will be found in Maudslay,
1889-1901: I, pls. 35-37.
[132] The full text of this inscription is given in Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 27-30.
[133] Note the decoration on the numerical bar.
[134] So far as known to the writer, this very unusual variant for the
closing glyph of the Supplementary Series occurs in but two other
inscriptions in the Maya territory, namely, on Stela N at Copan. See pl.
26, Glyph A14, and Inscription 6 of the Hieroglyphic Stairway at Naranjo,
Glyph A1 (?). (Maler, 1908 b: pl. 27.)
[135] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 105-107.
[136] In this glyph-block, A4, the order of reading is irregular; instead
of passing over to B4a after reading A4a (the 10 tuns), the next glyph to
be read is the sign below A4a, A4b, which records 0 uinals, and only after
this has been read does B4a follow.
[137] Texts illustrating the head-variant numerals in full will be
presented later.
[138] The preceding hotun ended with the day 9.12.5.0.0 3 Ahau 3 Xul and
therefore the opening day of the next hotun, 1 day later, will be
9.12.5.0.1 4 Imix 4 Xul.
[139] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 109, 110.
[140] The oldest Initial Series at Copan is recorded on Stela 15, which is
40 years older than Stela 9. For a discussion of this text see pp. 187,
188.
[141] An exception to this statement should be noted in an Initial Series
on the Hieroglyphic Stairway, which records the date 9.5.19.3.0 8 Ahau 3
Zotz. The above remark applies only to the large monuments, which, the
writer believes, were period-markers. Stela 9 is therefore the next to the
oldest "period stone" yet discovered at Copan. It is more than likely,
however, that there are several older ones as yet undeciphered.
[142] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 17-19.
[143] Although this date is considerably older than that on Stela 9 at
Copan, its several glyphs present none of the marks of antiquity noted in
connection with the preceding example (pl. 8, _B_). For example, the ends
of the bars denoting 5 are not square but round, and the head-variant
period glyphs do not show the same elaborate and ornate treatment as in the
Copan text. This apparent contradiction permits of an easy explanation.
Although the Initial Series on the west side of Stela C at Quirigua
undoubtedly refers to an earlier date than the Initial Series on the Copan
monument, it does not follow that the Quirigua monument is the older of the
two. This is true because on the other side of this same stela at Quirigua
is recorded another date, 9.17.5.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Kayab, more than three
hundred years later than the Initial Series 9.1.0.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Yaxkin on
the west side, and this later date is doubtless the one which referred to
present time when this monument was erected. Therefore the Initial Series
9.1.0.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Yaxkin does not represent the period which Stela C was
erected to mark, but some far earlier date in Maya history.
[144] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I, pl.
74.
[145] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1903: II, No. 2,
pls. 74, 75.
[146] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1903: II, No. 2, pl.
79, 2.
[147] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1911: V, No. 1, pl.
15.
[148] As used throughout this book, the expression "the contemporaneous
date" designates the time when the monument on which such a date is found
was put into formal use, that is, the time of its erection. As will appear
later in the discussion of the Secondary Series, many monuments present
several dates between the extremes of which elapse long periods. Obviously,
only one of the dates thus recorded can represent the time at which the
monument was erected. In such inscriptions the final date is almost
invariably the one designating contemporaneous time, and the earlier dates
refer probably to historical, traditional, or even mythological events in
the Maya past. Thus the Initial Series 9.0.19.2.4 2 Kan 2 Yax on Lintel 21
at Yaxchilan, 9.1.0.0.0 6 Ahau 13 Yazkin on the west side of Stela C at
Quirigua, and 9.4.0.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Yax from the Temple of the Inscriptions
at Palenque, all refer probably to earlier historical or traditional events
in the past of these three cities, but they do not indicate the dates at
which they were severally recorded. As Initial Series which refer to purely
mythological events may be classed the Initial Series from the Temples of
the Sun, Cross, and Foliated Cross at Palenque, and from the east side of
Stela C at Quirigua, all of which are concerned with dates centering around
or at the beginning of Maya chronology. Stela 3 at Tikal (the text here
under discussion), on the other hand, has but one date, which probably
refers to the time of its erection, and is therefore contemporaneous.
[149] There are one or two earlier Initial Series which probably record
contemporaneous dates; these are not inscribed on large stone monuments but
on smaller antiquities, namely, the Tuxtla Statuette and the Leyden Plate.
For the discussion of these early contemporaneous Initial Series, see pp.
194-198.
[150] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 4-7.
[151] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV,
pls. 80-82.
[152] As explained on p. 179, footnote 1, this Initial Series refers
probably to some mythological event rather than to any historical
occurrence. The date here recorded precedes the historic period of the Maya
civilization by upward of 3,000 years.
[153] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902; IV,
pls. 87-89.
[154] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV,
pl. 23.
[155] It is clear that if all the period coefficients above the kin have
been correctly identified, even though the kin coefficient is unknown, by
designating it 0 the date reached will be within 19 days of the date
originally recorded. Even though its maximum value (19) had originally been
recorded here, it could have carried the count only 19 days further. By
using 0 as the kin coefficient, therefore, we can not be more than 19 days
from the original date.
[156] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 88, 89.
[157] While at Copan the writer made a personal examination of this
monument and found that Mr. Maudslay's drawing is incorrect as regards the
coefficient of the day sign. The original has two numerical dots between
two crescents, whereas the Maudslay drawing shows one numerical dot between
two distinct pairs of crescents, each pair, however, of different shape.
[158] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 41-44.
[159] For the text of this monument see Spinden, 1913: VI, pl. 23, 2.
[160] For the discussion of full-figure glyphs, see pp. 65-73.
[161] The characteristics of the heads for 7, 14, 16, and 19 will be found
in the heads for 17, 4, 6, and 9, respectively.
[162] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 47, 48.
[163] The student will note also in connection with this glyph that the
pair of comblike appendages usually found are here replaced by a pair of
fishes. As explained on pp. 65-66, the fish represents probably the
original form from which the comblike element was derived in the process of
glyph conventionalization. The full original form of this element is
therefore in keeping with the other full-figure forms in this text.
[164] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pls. 66-71.
[165] The student should remember that in this diagonal the direction of
reading is from bottom to top. See pl. 15, _B_, glyphs 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
etc. Consequently the upper half of 13 follows the lower half in this
particular glyph.
[166] For the full text of this inscription see Hewett, 1911: pl. XXII _B_.
[167] A few monuments at Quirigua, namely, Stelæ F, D, E, and A, have two
Initial Series each. In A both of the Initial Series have 0 for the
coefficients of their uinal and kin glyphs, and in F, D, E, the Initial
Series which shows the position of the monument in the Long Count, that is,
the Initial Series showing the katun ending which it marks, has 0 for its
uinal and kin coefficients.
[168] In 1913 Mr. M. D. Landry, superintendent of the Quirigua district,
Guatemala division of the United Fruit Co., found a still earlier monument
about half a mile west of the main group. This has been named Stela S. It
records the katun ending prior to the one on Stela H, i. e., 9.15.15.0.0 9
Ahau 18 Xul.
[169] For the full text of this inscription see Holmes, 1907: pp. 691 et
seq., and pls. 34-41.
[170] For a full discussion of the Tuxtla Statuette, including the opinions
of several writers as to its inscription, see Holmes, 1907: pp. 691 et seq.
The present writer gives therein at some length the reasons which have led
him to accept this inscription as genuine and contemporaneous.
[171] For the full text of these inscriptions, see Seler, 1902-1908: II,
253, and 1901 c: I, 23, fig. 7. During his last visit to the Maya territory
the writer discovered that Stela 11 at Tikal has a Cycle-10 Initial Series,
namely, 10.2.0.0.0. 3 Ahau 3 Ceh.
[172] Missing.
[173] At Seibal a Period-ending date 10.1.0.0.0 5 Ahau 3 Kayab is clearly
recorded, but this is some 30 years earlier than either of the Initial
Series here under discussion, a significant period just at this particular
epoch of Maya history, which we have every reason to believe was filled
with stirring events and quickly shifting scenes. Tikal, with the Initial
Series 10.2.0.0.0 3 Ahau 3 Ceh, and Seibal with the same date (not as an
Initial Series, however) are the nearest, though even these fall 10 years
short of the Quen Santo and Chichen Itza Initial Series.
[174] Up to the present time no successful interpretation of the
inscription on Stela C at Copan has been advanced. The inscription on each
side of this monument is headed by an introducing glyph, but in neither
case is this followed by an Initial Series. A number consisting of
11.14.5.1.0 is recorded in connection with the date 6 Ahau 18 Kayab, but as
this date does not appear to be fixed in the Long Count, there is no way of
ascertaining whether it is earlier or later than the starting point of Maya
chronology. Mr. Bowditch (1910: pp. 195-196) offers an interesting
explanation of this monument, to which the student is referred for the
possible explanation of this text. A personal inspection of this
inscription failed to confirm, however, the assumption on which Mr.
Bowditch's conclusions rest. For the full text of this inscription, see
Maudslay, 1889-1902: I, pls. 39-41.
[175] For the full text of this inscription, see ibid.: II, pls. 16, 17,
19.
[176] Table XVI contains only 80 Calendar Rounds (1,518,400), but by adding
18 Calendar Rounds (341,640) the number to be subtracted, 98 Calendar
Rounds (1,860,040), will be reached.
[177] Counting 13.0.0.0.0 backward from the starting point of Maya
chronology, 4 Ahau 8 Cumhu, gives the date 4 Ahau 8 Zotz, which is no
nearer the terminal date recorded in B5-A6 than the date 4 Ahau 3 Kankin
reached by counting forward.
[178] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV,
pls. 73-77.
[179] As noted in Chapter IV, this is one of the only two heads for 13
found in the inscriptions which is composed of the essential element of the
10 head applied to the 3 head, the combination of the two giving 13.
Usually the head for 13 is represented by a form peculiar to this number
alone and is not built up by the combination of lower numbers as in this
case.
[180] Although at first sight the headdress resembles the tun sign, a
closer examination shows that it is not this element.
[181] Similarly, it could be shown that the use of every other possible
value of the cycle coefficient will not give the terminal date actually
recorded.
[182] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1903: II, No. 2, pl.
56.
[183] From this point on this step will be omitted, but the student is
urged to perform the calculations necessary in each case to reach the
terminal dates recorded.
[184] Since the introducing glyph always accompanies an Initial Series, it
has here been included as a part of it, though, as has been explained
elsewhere, its function is unknown.
[185] The number 15.1.16.5 is equal to 108,685 days, or 297½ years.
[186] It is interesting to note in this connection that the date 9.16.1.0.0
11 Ahau 8 Tzec, which is within 9 days of 9.16.1.0.9 7 Muluc 17 Tzec, is
recorded in four different inscriptions at Yaxchilan, one of which (see pl.
9, _A_) has already been figured.
[187] For the full text of this inscription see Maler, 1901: II, No. 1, pl.
12.
[188] The month-sign indicator appears in B2 with a coefficient 10.
[189] Not expressed.
[190] The writer has recently established the date of this monument as
9.13.15.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Pax, or 99 days later than the above date.
[191] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 47-49.
[192] Although the details of the day and month signs are somewhat effaced,
the coefficient in each case is 3, agreeing with the coefficients in the
Initial-series terminal date, and the outline of the month glyph suggests
that it is probably Yax. See fig. 19, _q, r_.
[193] Since the Maya New Year's day, 0 Pop, always fell on the 16th of
July, the day 3 Yax always fell on Jan. 15th, at the commencement of the
dry season.
[194] Since 0 Pop fell on July 16th (Old Style), 18 Kayab fell on June
19th, which is very near the summer solstice, that is, the seeming northern
limit of the sun, and roughly coincident with the beginning of the rainy
season at Quirigua.
[195] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pl. 46.
[196] Bracketed dates are those which are not actually recorded but which
are reached by numbers appearing in the text.
[197] Although not recorded, the number 1.14.6 is the distance from the
date 9.15.5.0.0 reached by the Secondary Series on one side to the starting
point of the Secondary Series on the other side, that is, 9.15.6.14.6 6
Cimi 4 Tzec.
[198] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 37, 39, 40. For convenience in figuring, the lower parts of columns A
and B are shown in _B_ instead of below the upper part. The numeration of
the glyph-blocks, however, follows the arrangement in the original.
[199] This is one of the two Initial Series which justified the assumptions
made in the previous text that the date 12 Caban 5 Kayab, which was
recorded there, had the Initial-series value 9.14.13.4.17, as here.
[200] This is the text in which the Initial-series value 9.15.6.14.6 was
found attached to the date 6 Cimi 4 Tzec.
[201] For the full text of this inscription see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 38, 40.
[202] The frontlet seems to be composed of but one element, indicating for
this head the value 8 instead of 1. However, as the calculations point to
1, it is probable there was originally another element to the frontlet.
[203] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: I, pl. 102, west side, glyphs A5b-A7a.
[204] See ibid.: IV, pl. 81, glyphs N15 O15.
[205] See Maler, 1908 b: IV, No. 2, pl. 38, east side, glyphs A17-B18.
[206] See ibid., 1911: V, pl. 26, glyphs A1-A4.
[207] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: I, pl. 104, glyphs A7, B7.
[208] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV, pl. 60, glyphs M1-N2.
[209] Maler, 1911: V, pl. 17, east side, glyphs A4-A5.
[210] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: II, pl. 19, west side, glyphs B10-A12.
[211] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV, pl. 75, glyphs D3-C5.
[212] See Maler, 1901: II, No. 1, pl. 8, glyphs A1-A2.
[213] See Maudslay, op. cit., pl. 81, glyphs C7-D8.
[214] It will be remembered that Uayeb was the name for the _xma kaba kin_,
the 5 closing days of the year. Dates which fall in this period are
exceedingly rare, and in the inscriptions, so far as the writer knows, have
been found only at Palenque and Tikal.
[215] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: IV, pl. 77, glyphs P14-R2. Glyphs Q15-P17
are omitted from pl. 22, _G_, as they appear to be uncalendrical.
[216] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: I, pl. 100, glyphs C1 D1, A2.
[217] This excludes Stela C, which has two Initial Series (see figs. 68 and
77), though neither of them, as explained on p. 175, footnote 1, records
the date of this monument. The true date of this monument is declared by
the Period-ending date figured in pl. 21, _H_, which is 9.17.0.0.0 6 Ahau
13 Kayab. (See p. 226.)
[218] See Maudslay, 1889-1902: II, pl. 44, west side, glyphs G4 H4, F5.
[219] The dates 10.2.5.0.0 9 Ahau 18 Yax and 10.2.10.0.0 2 Ahau 13 Chen on
Stelæ 1 and 2, respectively, at Quen Santo, are purposely excluded from
this statement. Quen Santo is in the highlands of Guatemala (see pl. 1) and
is well to the south of the Usamacintla region. It rose to prominence
probably after the collapse of the great southern cities and is to be
considered as inaugurating a new order of things, if not indeed a new
civilization.
[220] See Maler, 1908 a: IV, No. 1, pl. 9, glyphs E2, F2, A3, and A4.
[221] The student will note that the lower periods (the tun, uinal, and kin
signs) are omitted and consequently are to be considered as having the
coefficient 0.
[222] The usual positions of the uinal and kin coefficients in D4a are
reversed, the kin coefficient 10 standing above the uinal sign instead of
at the left of it. The calculations show, however, that 10, not 11, is the
kin coefficient.
[223] In this number also the positions of the uinal and kin coefficients
are reversed.
[224] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pls. 28-32.
[225] The student will note that 12, not 13, tuns are recorded in A5. As
explained elsewhere (see pp. 247, 248), this is an error on the part of the
ancient scribe who engraved this inscription. The correct tun coefficient
is 13, as used above.
[226] This Secondary-series number is doubly irregular. In the first place,
the kin and uinal coefficients are reversed, the latter standing to the
left of its sign instead of above, and in the second place, the uinal
coefficient, although it is 14, has an ornamental dot between the two
middle dots.
[227] Since we counted _backward_ 1.14.6 from 6 Cimi 4 Tzec to reach 10
Ahau 8 Chen, we must _subtract_ 1.14.6 from the Initial-series value of 6
Cimi 4 Tzec to reach the Initial-series value of 10 Ahau 8 Chen.
[228] It is obvious that the kin and uinal coefficients are reversed in
A17b since the coefficient above the uinal sign is very clearly 19, an
impossible value for the uinal coefficient in the inscriptions, 19 uinals
_always_ being written 1 tun, 1 uinal. Therefore the 19 must be the kin
coefficient. See also p. 110, footnote 1.
[229] The first glyph of the Supplementary Series, B6a, very irregularly
stands between the kin period glyph and the day part of the terminal date.
[230] Incorrectly recorded as 12. See pp. 247, 248.
[231] In this table the numbers showing the distances have been omitted and
all dates are shown in terms of their corresponding Initial-series numbers,
in order to facilitate their comparison. The contemporaneous date of each
monument is given in bold-faced figures and capital letters, and the
student will note also that this date not only ends a hotun in each case
but is, further, the latest date in each text.
[232] The Initial Series on the west side of Stela D at Quirigua is
9.16.13.4.17 8 Caban 5 Yaxkin, which was just 2 katuns later than
9.14.13.4.17 12 Caban 5 Kayab, or, in other words, the second katun
anniversary, if the term anniversary may be thus used, of the latter date.
[233] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: II,
pl. 50.
[234] For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: I,
pl. 112.
[235] Every fourth hotun ending in the Long Count was a katun ending at the
same time, namely:
9.16. 0.0.0 2 Ahau 13 Tzec
9.16. 5.0.0 8 Ahau 8 Zotz
9.16.10.0.0 1 Ahau 3 Zip
9.16.15.0.0 7 Ahau 18 Pop
9.17. 0.0.0 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu
etc.
[236] Maler, 1911: No. 1, p. 40.
[237] For a seeming exception to this statement, in the codices, see p.
110, footnote 1.
[238] That is, the age of one compared with the age of another, without
reference to their actual age as expressed in terms of our own chronology.
[239] See Chapter II for the discussion of this point and the quotations
from contemporary authorities, both Spanish and native, on which the above
statement is based.
[240] As explained on p. 31, tonalamatls were probably used by the priests
in making prophecies or divinations. This, however, is a matter apart from
their composition, that is, length, divisions, dates, and method of
counting, which more particularly concerns us here.
[241] The codices are folded like a screen or fan, and when opened form a
continuous strip sometimes several yards in length. As will appear later,
in many cases one tonalamatl runs across several pages of the manuscript.
[242] If there should be two or more columns of day signs the topmost sign
of the left-hand column is to be read first.
[243] In the original this last red dot has disappeared. The writer has
inserted it here to avoid confusing the beginner in his first acquaintance
with a tonalamatl.
[244] This and similar outlines which follow are to be read down in
columns.
[245] The fifth sign in the lower row is also a sign of the Death God (see
fig. 3). Note the eyelashes, suggesting the closed eyes of the dead.
[246] The last sign Chuen, as mentioned above, is only a repetition of the
first sign, indicating that the tonalamatl has re-entered itself.
[247] As previously stated, the order of reading the glyphs in columns is
from left to right and top to bottom.
[248] The right-hand dot of the 13 is effaced.
[249] The manuscript has incorrectly 7.
[250] In the title of plate 30 the page number should read 102 instead of
113.
[251] The manuscript incorrectly has 24.
[252] Incorrectly recorded as 13 in the text.
[253] Incorrectly recorded as 15 in the text.
[254] _Bull. 28, Bur. Amer. Ethn._, p. 400.
[255] The terminal dates reached have been omitted, since for comparative
work the Initial-series numbers alone are sufficient to show the relative
positions in the Long Count.
[256] The manuscript incorrectly reads 10.13.3.13.2; that is, reversing the
position of the tun and uinal coefficients.
[257] The manuscript incorrectly reads 10.8.3.16.4. The katun coefficient
is changed to 13, above. These corrections are all suggested by Professor
Förstemann and are necessary if the calculations he suggests are correct,
as seems probable.
[258] The manuscript incorrectly reads 8.16.4.11.0. The uinal coefficient
is changed to an 8, above.
[259] The manuscript incorrectly reads 10.19.6.0.8. The uinal coefficient
is changed to 1, above.
[260] The manuscript incorrectly reads 9.16.4.10.18. The uinal coefficient
is changed to 11, above.
[261] The manuscript incorrectly reads 9.19.8.7.8. The tun coefficient is
changed to 5, above.
[262] Bowditch, 1909: p. 279.
[263] The manuscript has incorrectly 16 Uo. It is obvious this can not be
correct, since from Table VII Kan can occupy only the 2d, 7th, 12th, or
17th position in the months. The correct reading here, as we shall see, is
probably 17 Uo. This reading requires only the addition of a single dot.
[264] In the text the coefficient appears to be 8, but in reality it is 9,
the lower dot having been covered by the marginal line at the bottom.
[265] Counting backward 8.2.0 (2,920) from 9 Ahau, 1 Ahau is reached.
[266] Professor Förstemann restored the top terms of the four numbers in
this row, so as to make them read as given above.
[267] The manuscript reads 1.12.5.0, which Professor Förstemann corrects to
1.12.8.0; in other words, changing the uinal from 5 to 8. This correction
is fully justified in the above calculations.