Another fact also becomes apparent here, viz, that the 5 supplemental days of the year are not brought into the count, the year consisting throughout of 360 days. There is, in fact, nothing here indicating the four year series as given in the authorities and as represented in our calendar table; yet this ought to appear wherever a series extends over more than one year.

Dr. Förstemann says that this entire series of black numerals covers 2,920 days, or 8 years of 365 days. This is true, but the concluding figures show that it is given by the writer of the codex as 8 years and 2 months, which would also be 2,920 days, counting the years at 360 days each and the months 20 days each; moreover, the members of the series are based throughout upon the year of 360 days. His theory that the intervals of the series relate to the movements of the planet Venus is, as yet, a mere hypothesis, which needs further proof before it can demand acceptance; but his discovery of the methods of identifying the month symbols on the five plates now under consideration is important. Although I had noticed that most of the characters which he mentions are month symbols, I did not succeed in identifying all of them.

According to his conclusion, which appears to be justified not only by the evidence he gives but by an additional fact that I shall, presently mention, there are four of these symbols in the upper row of the middle group of written characters on each plate and four in the upper and lower lines of the lower group on each plate (see, for example, [Fig. 362]). Each of these symbols (except three or four) has a black number attached to it which denotes the day of the month represented by the symbol.

These months and days as given by Dr. Förstemann are as follows, the positions of the lines as here given corresponding with those of the plates:

Table IV.—Table showing months and days.

Month.Day.Month.Day.Month.Day.Month.Day.
Plate 4674111451967
11815181041012
11464181412
Plate 47183481618176
438132183(not 2)6
101015398916
Plate 4810171579121020
152171317145
3771722210
Plate 493118126214
716126611619
1461816131139
Plate 50141018201351313
181552017101718
620111051563

An examination of the plates will show that Dr. Förstemann has filled out the following obliterated or wanting day numbers, to wit, the first of the upper line of Plate 46, the fourth of the upper line of Plate 47, and the second of the middle line and first of the lower line of Plate 50. He has also ventured to change the first day number of the lower line of Plate 46 from 16 to 14. Where the number 20 is found in his list there is no corresponding number in the codex, the month symbol only being given. It is evident he has proceeded in these cases upon the theory that the absence of a number indicated that the month was completed. Although probably correct in this conclusion, the question will arise, Does the symbol in such cases denote the month completed or the month reached?

The intervals between these dates are as follows, the left hand column being those between the first and second columns of Förstemann’s list (our [Table IV]), the second column those between the second and third columns of his list, the third column those between the third and fourth columns of his list, and the fourth column those between the last date of one plate and the first of the next:

Table V.—Table showing intervals between dates.

Month.Day.Month.Day.Month.Day.Month.Day.
Plate 46410 125 08 1116
410 126b08 1111
410 1210 08 98d
Plate 4745 1210 08 1111
410 125 08c1116e
413a125 08 1111
Plate 48410 125 8 1111
45 1210 08 1111
410 125 08 1116
Plate 49410 125 08 1116
410 125 08 1116
410 125 08 1111
Plate 50410 125 08 1111
45 1210 08 1110
410 125 08 1211g