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 C a r n e g i e I n s t i t u t i o n o f Wa s h i n g t o n D i v i s i o n o f H i s t o r i c a l R e s e a r c h Theoretical Approaches to Problems No. 2 March 1944 the fish as a Maya symbol for Counting and further Discussion of Directional Glyphs J. Eric S. Thompson for, apart from whether the distance number is to be counted forward or backward, the former always indicates the later in time of a pair of dates; the latter the earlier. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that these terms do not translate the Maya expressions , for the idea of counting almost certainly enters both glyphs. Any truly descriptive term used for either of the two glyphs, however, would be too clumsy. Collectively, the glyphs might be termed “directional counting glyphs.” In the paper cited it was pointed out that the normal form of the main element of both indicators was the same as that often used for the day sign Muluc ‘water,’ and that the head variant appeared to be that of a fish. At the time that identification was made, its importance was not realized. Since then further research has shown that this identification may be of the highest importance. I must use rather involved arguments in attempting to establish that the head form which is the main element of both directional glyphs is that of an anthropomorphized fish, and that the head or full picture of a fish is a general symbol for counting. In order to make the presentation easier to follow, I give below the main steps in the thesis: 1. Identification of the head variant of the central element of the directional counting glyphs as the head of an anthropomorphized fish by comparisons with realistic and conventionalized representations of fish in Maya art and epigraphy. 2. Identification of the flattened-head prefix as that of a fish. CONteNts Outline of Discussion Identification of Glyphic Elements Representing Fish Evidence for Identification of Fish Through Substitution Suggested Meaning of Fish and Associated Signs Applied to Various Texts Possible Evidence for Rebus Writing Concordance between Records of Dates on Stelae and in the Book of Chilam Balam Additional Examples of Anterior Date Indicator Snake or Eel Variant of the Anterior Date Indicator General Remarks References Illustration OutlINe Of DIsCussION In a previous paper (Thompson 1943) I reported the two glyphs, both head and normal forms, commonly used to indicate the starting and ending points of a count. For convenience these glyphs were temporarily labeled “A” and “B.” In general usage they might be termed respectively “posterior date indicator” and “anterior date indicator,” • • • • • • • • • • • J. Eric S. ThompSon  3. Evidence that the comb element can be replaced in several glyphs by a fish or by the head tentatively identified as that of a fish. 4. Evidence for the interchangeability of supposed fish head, the fish-head prefix, the nicked and dot bracket prefixes, and the comb. 5. Assumption that glyphs that can be substituted for one another without perceptibly changing the meaning of the text must have the same or very similar meanings. 6. Evidence that the various glyphic elements already discussed can be translated as ‘count’ or ‘counting,’ and that the interpretation ‘end’ given to several of them is highly doubtful. Discussion of the hand and affix combination as a symbol for completion, and evidence that it is not interchangeable with other glyphic elements discussed. 7. Linguistic evidence that the Yucatec word for counting was also used as the name of a poorly defined group of large fish. The implication is that the use of the head of a fish as a symbol for counting is an example of rebus writing. 8. Discussion of the resemblances in the manner of recording dates on stelae and in the books of Chilam Balam. 9. Additional examples of anterior date indicators , and a list of all known examples in which the eel or snake prefix replaces the anterior date indicator. IDeNtIfICatION Of GlyPhIC eleMeNts rePreseNtING heaDs Of fIsh Five Maya pictures of fish are shown on Figure 2.la– e. Others are to be seen in Maudslay (1889–1902:4, Pl. 93), Seler (1902–1923, 4:705–711), and Tozzer and Allen (1910, Pls. 5, 6). As far as the heads of these fish are concerned, a characteristic...

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