Aids to the study of the Maya codices / by Cyrus Thomas.

  • Thomas, Cyrus, 1825-1910.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Aids to the study of the Maya codices / by Cyrus Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Kan. fourth column. The reason for this is so apparent that it is unnecessary to state it. Suppose the day counted from is II Muluc of the eleventh m u, and the number of days to be counted (or the interval) is 19; by adding together the numbers and casting out the thirteens the fol- lowing result is obtained: 11 + 19 — 13 — 13=4. Counting forward on the table 19 days from 11 Muluc (the sixth number in the eleventh figure column), we reach 4 Larnat (the fourth day of the twelfth month). When the sum of the numbers is- a multiple of 13 the number obtained is 13, as there can lie no blanks, that is to say. no day without a number. As the plates of the codices are usually divided into two or three compartments by transverse lines, it is necessary to adopt some met hod of referring to these in order to avoid the constant repetition of “upper,” “middle,” and “lower” division. On the plan proposed by Dr. Fbrstemann. in his late work on the Dresden Codex (Erlauter- ungen zur Mayahandschrift der Koniglichen offentlichen Biblio- thek zu Dresden), these divisions are designated by the letters a, b, and c; this plan will be adopted in this paper. The letter a joined to the number of a plate, therefore, will signify that the division referred to is the upper one. as Plate 12c<; the letter b signifies the middle one where there are three divisions or the lower one where there are but two; and the letter c signifies the lowest or bottom division where there are three. Where reference is made to the fac simile of the Dresden Codex. Kingsborough's colored edition is always to be understood, except where another is specially mentioned. Running through Plates 30c and 37c is a continuous line of day symbols and red and black numeral characters as follows, the num- bers and names below the characters being explanatory and of course not on the original: Pi.3b. 10 XI Men o oo XiK Oc O OOP ixCouac. Pi. 37. 0. 0 ] O I II VII 0c. 1 2.0 I Oc J 10 Fig. 359. Lines of day and numeral symbols. O XlAhoM As colors are not used in these figures the red numerals are indi cated by hollow or outline dots and lines and the black numerals by . solid lines and dots.1 1 This method will be adopted throughout this paper where figures containing numerals are introduced.