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 N o t e s o n M i d d l e A m e r i c a n A r c h a e o l o g y a n d E t h n o l o g y Carnegie Institution of Washington Division of Historical Research No. 22 October 30, 1943 Maya epigraphy: a Cycle of 819 days J. Eric S. Thompson In five Maya inscriptions the month position of an Initial Series is separated from the context by an intervening Secondary Series and date, together with six (in one incomplete text four) explanatory hieroglyphs. In four cases the Secondary Series is subtracted from the Initial Series to reach a day with a coefficient of one; in the fifth example a subtraction was almost certainly made to reach a day with a coefficient of one, although the Secondary Series and the day are destroyed. Only the month position remains. In one text (Stela K, Quirigua) the parenthetical clause interrupts the Lunar Series; in the remaining examples it follows Glyph A of that series. There are no other known cases of an interruption of an Initial Series. These Initial Series with their parenthetical clauses are: Palenque Stela 1 A A1–B5 9.12.6.5.8 3 Lamat Initial Series A9–B9 1.10.1 Subtract A’ A10 9.12.4.13.7 1 Manik 10 Pop A11–B11 Explanatory glyphs Yaxchilan Lintel 29 and 30 B A1–A4 9.13.17.12.10 8 Oc Initial Series E1–F1 1.1.17 Subtract B’ E2–F2 9.13.16.10.13 1 Ben 1 Chen E3–F5 Explanatory glyphs G1 13 Yax Month of Initial Series Yaxchilan Stela 11 (right/left sides) C B’1–B’7 9.16.1.0.0 11 Ahau Initial Series C’2–C’3 1.3.6 Substract C’ C’4–C’5 9.15.19.14.14 1 Ix 7 Uo C’6–C’9 Explanatory glyphs continued on next page J. eric s. Thompson 0 C’10 8 Tzec Month of Initial Series Yaxchilan Stela 1 D A1–D3 9.16.10.0.0 1 Ahau 1 Initial Series 1.1.10 Subtract D’ E2 9.16.8.16.10 1 Oc 18 Pop 2 E3–F6 Explanatory glyphs E7 3 Zip Month of Initial Series Quirigua Stela K E A1–A5a 9.18.15.0.0 3 Ahau Initial Series A6 10.10 Subtract E’ B6b–A7a 9.18.14.7.10 1 Oc 10 Kayab A7b–C2a Exploratory glyphs C4 3 Ahau 3 Yax Day and month of Initial Series D4– Further explanatory glyphs 1 Presumably on eroded section. 2 Day sign obliterated. Only in the case of D’ is the reading clouded. However, 18 Pop is perfectly clear, and in view of the parallel cases, the restoration suggested is almost certainly correct. For reasons of brevity it will be assumed that this reading is not open to question. The explanatory glyphs obviously treat of the same subject, although there are certain differences, due possibly to the use of variable forms of the same glyph or substitution of another glyph with the same meaning (Fig. 22.1a–e). All five texts include a glyph with a coefficient of one, which, except in Text A’, occupies the last place, immediately preceding the detached month sign of the Initial Series. This is the headofarodentwiththeso-calledboneglyphasaffix, which forms one of the elements of Glyph B of the Lunar Series. To judge by full-figure representations of this animal at Acanceh, where it is shown with a long bushy tail, it is meant to indicate a squirrel. The principal features of the various glyphs, numbered in the sequence in which they occur, are as follows: 1. Obviously the same glyph in all cases. In all texts except A’ it, like the month sign Pax, has at the top an opening, through which in three cases pass two diverging curls. There is an infix resembling the Chuen sign, and in three cases a lunar infix or postfix. This is Gates’ Glyph 92, which occurs very frequently in the codices. 2. In Text B’ this is a kin sign with a half kin as superfix . In Texts C’ and D’ this is replaced by the head of a god with a Roman nose and with an ending sign in front. In view of the kin sign in Text B’ these may be portraits of the sun god but they may...

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