Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices / Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1884-85, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1888, pages 253-372

by Cyrus Thomas

Continuing the addition as heretofore we note the variations.

Years.			Months.			Days.			Column.	Plate.
				17			14		Second.	53a.
				7			8
	1			7			3		Third.	53a.
				8			17
	1			15			19	[323-1]	Fourth.	53a.
				8			17
	2			6			16		Fifth.	53a.
				8			17
	2			15			13		Sixth.	53a.
				8			18	[323-2]
	3			6			11		First.	54a.
				8			17
	3			15			8		Second.	54a.
				8			17
	4			6			5		Third.	54a.
				8			17
	4			15			2	[324-1]	Fourth.	54a.
				8			17
	5			5			19		Fifth.	54a.
				8			17
	5			14	[324-2]		16		Sixth.	54a.
				7			8
	6			4			4		Seventh.	54a.
				8			18	[324-3]
	6	[324-4]		13			2		First.	55a.
				8			17
	7			3			19	[324-5]	Second.	55a.
				8			17
	7			12			16		Third.	55a.
				8			17
	8			3			13		Fourth.	55a.
				8			17
	8			12			10		Fifth.	55a.
				7			8
	9			1			18		First.	56a.
				8			17
	9			10			15		Second.	56a.
				8			17
	10			1			12		Third.	56a.
				8			17
	10			10			9		Fourth.	56a.
				8			17
	11			1			6		First.	57a.
				8			17
	11			10			3		Second.	57a.
				8			17
	12			1			0		Third.	57a.
				7			8	[325-1]
	12			8			8		Fourth.	57a.
				8			17
	12			17			5		First.	58a.
				8			17
	13			8			2		Second.	58a.
				8			18	[325-2]
	13			17			0		Third.	58a.
				8			17
	14			7			17		Fourth.	58a.
				8			17
	14			16			14		First.	51b.[325-3]

We have in what has thus far been given a satisfactory explanation of the meaning and use of the lines of numerals and also of their relation to the day columns, but we still fall short of a complete interpretation, inasmuch as we are unable to give the series a definite location in the Maya calendar or in actual time. It is apparent, however, that the series cannot by any possible explanation be made to agree with the calendar system as usually accepted, as there is nothing in it indicating the four series of years or the year of 365 days. It may be safely assumed, I think, from what has been shown, that the year referred to in the series is one of 360 days, with probably a periodic addition of one day, but the reason of the addition is not yet apparent.

If the numbers in the lowest line of numerals over the day columns indicate the days of the month, and those of the middle line the respective months of the year, it is evident, as before stated, that Muluc is the first day of the year throughout, a conclusion irreconcilable with the Maya calendar as hitherto understood. It is probable, however, that the month and day numbers do not refer to particular months and days, but are used only as intervals of time counted from a certain day, which must in this case have been Muluc.

The sum of the series as shown by the numbers over the second column of Plate 58b is 33 years, 3 months, and 18 days. As this includes only the top day of this column (10 Cimi), we must add two days to complete the series, which ends with 12 Lamat. This makes the sum of the entire series 33 years, 4 months, or 11,960 days, precisely 46 cycles of 13 months, or 260 days each, the whole and also each cycle commencing with 13 Muluc and ending with 12 Lamat. It is also worthy of notice that in the right hand column of characters (hieroglyphics) over the inverted figure in Plate 58b two numbers, 13 and 12, are found attached to characters which appear to be abnormal forms of month symbols.

On Plates 63 and 64 are three series of ten day columns each and three lines of numerals over each series. These are as follows, so far as they can be made out, the numbers over the upper series being mostly obliterated. The 0 denotes the red, diamond shaped symbol which is here sometimes given in fanciful forms.

[Table XX.]—Table showing series of day columns, with lines of numerals.

UPPER DIVISION.
Plate 63.						Plate 64.
	4		3						0
	8		6				0		16
	0		0		0		0		0
III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.
	Kan.		Kan.		Kan.		Kan.		Kan.
	Ix.		Ix.		Ix.		Ix.		Ix.
	Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.
XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.
Plate 64.
	0		0
	12		8		3		3
	0		0		0		0		0
III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.	III	Chicchan.
	Kan.		Kan.		Kan.		Kan.		Kan.
	Ix.		Ix.		Ix.		Ix.		Ix.
	Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.		Cimi.
XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Akbal.
MIDDLE DIVISION.
XIX	5		4		4		4		4
IV	1		14		9		5		0
IV	0		0		0		7		16
III	Chicchan.	III	Ix.	III	Akbal.	III	Eb.	III	Ymix.
	Kan.		Been.		Ik.		Chuen.		Ahau.
	Ix.		Akbal.		Eb.		Ymix.		Oc.
	Cimi.		Men.		Kan.		Been.		Ik.
XIII	Akbal.	XIII	Eb.	XIII	Ymix.	XIII	Oc.	XIII	Cauac.
	3		3		3		3		2
	14		9		5		0		14
	5		14		3		12		1
III	Oc.	III	Cauac.	III	Lamat.	III	Caban.	III	Cimi.
	Muluc.		Ezanab.		Manik.		Cib.		Chicchan.
	Cauac.		Lamat.		Caban.		Cimi.		Men.
	Chuen.		Ahau.		Muluc.		Ezanab.		Manik.
XIII	Lamat.	XIII	Caban.	XIII	Cimi.	XIII	Men.	XIII	Kan.
LOWER DIVISION.
	2		2		2		1		1
	9		4		0		13		9
	10		19		8		17		6
III	Men.	III	Kan.	III	Been.	III	Ik.	III	Chuen.
	Ix.		Akbal.		Eb.		Ymix.		Oc.
	Kan.		Been.		Ik.		Chuen.		Ahau.
	Cib.		Chicchan.		Ix.		Akbal.		Eb.
XIII	Been.	XIII	Ik.	XIII	Chuen.	XIII	Ahau.	XIII	Muluc.
	1		1
	4		0		13		9		4
	15		4		13		2		11
III	Ahau.	III	Muluc.	III	Ezanab.	III	Manik.	III	Cib
	Cauac.		Lamat.		Caban.		Cimi.		Men.
	Muluc.		Ezanab.		Manik.		Cib.		Chicchan.
	Ymix.		Oc.		Cauac.		Lamat.		Caban.
XIII	Ezanab.	XIII	Manik.	XIII	Cib.	XIII	Chicchan.	XIII	Ix.

By examining carefully the lines and columns of the middle and lower divisions of the plates—those represented in Tables [XXI] and [XXII]—we ascertain that the two together form one series; but, contrary to the method which has prevailed in those examined, it is to be read from right to left, commencing with the right hand column of the lower and ending with the left hand column of the middle division.