Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices Part 14

Although the proof is not absolutely conclusive that these red unit numerals have this mark of distinction for the reason given, it nevertheless furnishes what would seem to be a satisfactory explanation, and, if so, affords proof that the calendar system, based upon the four year series, was in vogue when the Ma.n.u.script Troano and the Codex Cortesia.n.u.s were written.

This mark of distinction is found in a strange and unusual relation in the lower division of Plate XV, Ma.n.u.script Troano. The first red numeral of the series is given thus:

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 372. Numeral character from the lower division of Plate XV, Ma.n.u.script Troano.]

Most of the day and about half of the numeral symbols are obliterated, but all that are necessary for present purposes remain distinct and uninjured, as follows:

III, } Ix } 10, XI?I.

Cimi }

Judging by these and the few numbers remaining, the entire series was as follows:

III, } Ix } Cimi } Ezanab } 10, XIII; 4, IV; 20, XI; 9, VII; 9, III Oc } Ik }

The only doubt in reference to the restoration is whether the second and third pairs of numerals should be as given, or 2, II, and 22, XI. If we select the Kan column of our Table II and count from 3 Ix of the eleventh figure column, we reach 13 Kan. If the four year series was the system used 13 Kan might be the first day of a year, but not the first day of an Indication. As this is the only day referred to by the XIII which could have been the first of a year we must seek an explanation in something else. Counting ten days from 3 Ezanab will bring us to 13 Lamat, which is the last day (counting the five added days) of an Indication, commencing with the year 1 Kan and ending with the year 13 Kan.

According to my theory of the ahaues,[344-1] the year 13 Kan would have corresponded with the Gregorian years 1376, 1438, 1480, and 1532.

According to the theory advanced by Perez,[344-2] it would have corresponded with 1385, 1437, 1489, and 1541.

It is therefore possible that this mark of distinction may be of some value in determining the relation of the Maya to the Gregorian calendar.

FOOTNOTES:

[339-1] See Study of the Ma.n.u.script Troano, by Cyrus Thomas.

[339-2] See note on page 337.

[344-1] See Table XVII, Study of the Ma.n.u.script Troano, by Cyrus Thomas, p. 44.

[344-2] See Table XVIII, ibid., p. 45.

CHAPTER III

THE WRITING.

It must be admitted that none of the attempts made at deciphering the writing in these ma.n.u.scripts has proved entirely satisfactory; in fact there is still some doubt as to whether any of the characters are truly phonetic; nevertheless it is believed that what is here shown will tend to lessen this doubt. It must be conceded, however, notwithstanding these drawbacks and difficulties, that some material progress has been made towards a better understanding of its type and of the nature of the characters.

The direction in which it is to be read must of course be determined before any progress can be made in deciphering it. This was, until recently, a matter of speculation, but now may be considered settled. As this has been explained[345-1] it is unnecessary to repeat that explanation here.

A certain parallelism in the sentences or groups of characters has also been discovered. Attention was first called to this by me in the work referred to, but is more fully explained by Dr. P. Sch.e.l.lhas in his paper ent.i.tled "Die Mayahandschrift der koniglichen Bibliothek zu Dresden." It will readily be understood from a single ill.u.s.tration. Take for example the lower division of Plate XV of the Ma.n.u.script Troano (see Study Ms.

Troano). Omitting from consideration the numerals and the day column at the left, there are here two short columns on the left and two on the right over the animal figures, and three longer columns between. As explained in the work referred to, the short columns are to be read as lines from left to right and the longer columns separately, from the top downward. There are, in all, five groups or sentences, each containing four compound characters. Representing these by letters, repeating those which indicate similar characters, and arranging as in the plate, the result is as follows:

___________________________________________ | | | | | | | _b_ _a_ | _h_ | _l_ | _m_ | _w_ _a_ | | | | | | | | _r_ _n_ | _a_ | _a_ | _a_ | _r_ _s_ | |____________| | | |____________| | _r_ | _r_ | _r_ | | | | | | _p_ | _k_ | _t_ | |_____|_____|_____|

In this case the characters represented by _a_ and _r_ are repeated in each group and in the same relation to the other characters. It is apparent, therefore, that each group is to be read separately, and, as each repeats in part what is given in the others, it is more than probable that they are simply short formulas to be repeated in certain religious ceremonies. This parallelism, though not always so apparent as in the case presented, is nevertheless found running through all the codices. The advantage to the attempts at decipherment which results from this fact is evident, as it will often justify the restoration of blurred or obliterated characters, and, what is of still more importance, will enable the investigator to test his conclusions by comparing the different characters and pictures with which they are a.s.sociated.

Although it appears to be well settled that, as a rule, the writing, when in lines, is to be read from left to right--the lines following each other downward and the columns to be read from the top downward, but the groups, as before explained, to be read separately--it does not follow that the _groups_ succeed one another from left to right. This has generally been taken for granted, but there are some reasons to doubt the correctness of this conclusion as regards a number of plates and possibly one entire codex.

The facts that the lines of numerals attached to the day columns extend to the right and that the written characters, when in lines, follow one another in the same direction lead us to infer that the groups and pictures follow one another in the same order, but the apparent movement of the latter towards the left would seem to indicate that _they_ follow one another in _this_ direction. This inference appears to be confirmed by the following evidence: As is well known, the plates of the Ma.n.u.script Troano are to be taken in reverse order to the paging. Turning to Plate II, we observe in the middle department of the middle division a bound captive or victim, on whose neck a machete is descending to sever the head from the trunk. Turning to Plate III, which properly stands to the left of Plate II, we see a headless trunk covered with blood and the fatal machete near the neck. It is fair to presume that this is the same individual that is figured in the preceding plate, and, if so, that the pictures follow one another toward the left.

Placing Plates XV* and XVI* of the same ma.n.u.script in the proper relation to each other and carefully examining the figures in the second division, we notice that the idol heads which the artisans are carving approach completion as we move toward the left, those in Plate XV* and the right hand one in XVI* being simply blocked out, while the middle one in the latter plate is completely rounded and is receiving the second ornamental line and the one at the left hand is receiving the third and final line.

The female figures in the second division of Plate XIX* indicate the same order, as shown by the increasing girth as we proceed toward the left.

The same order appears to be indicated in numerous places by the symbols of the cardinal points inserted in the text, as they (supposing the conclusion as to their a.s.signment in my "Notes on certain Maya and Mexican ma.n.u.scripts," accepted by Drs. Forstemann and Sch.e.l.lhas, to be correct) follow one another in the proper order if read towards the left, to wit, south, east, north, west.

As the writing over each figure, consisting usually of four compound characters, appears to refer to that over which it is placed, it follows that these character groups must be taken in the same order as the pictures. The suggestions on this point are presented here more as proper subjects of investigation by students of American paleography than as fixed conclusions of the writer. If found to be justified by the facts, they will furnish some additional aid in the work of deciphering these ma.n.u.scripts.

SIGNIFICATION OF THE CHARACTERS.

As Landa's alphabet has so far proved useless as an aid in deciphering these ma.n.u.scripts, our only hope of accomplishing this end is by long and careful study of these records and laborious comparisons of characters and the relations in which they stand to one another and to the figures.

Some discoveries made while preparing this paper for the press, which are mentioned further on, may possibly give us the key to the method used by Landa in forming his alphabet, and, if so, will probably furnish some slight additional aid in our investigations.

The direction in which the writing is to be read having been ascertained, our next step is to determine by comparison the probable signification of as many characters as possible before discussing the question of phoneticism. The relation of the characters to the pictorial representations forms our chief reliance in this branch of the investigation.

As a commencement in this work and as a basis for further attempts in the same direction, attention is now called to some characters, other than the day and month symbols, whose signification seems to be satisfactorily determined. As there is still some difference of opinion as to the a.s.signment of the symbols of the cardinal points they are also omitted from the list. M. Leon de Rosny has given, as a supplement to his edition of the Cortesian Codex, a list of characters with their supposed signification. It is not my intention to discuss here the merits of this vocabulary, although I shall avail myself of so much found therein as appears to warrant acceptance.

The question of phoneticism will not be considered in connection with the list, as the subject will be briefly discussed at the close, the only object in view in giving the list being to indicate the signification of the characters alluded to. The Maya names appended are therefore to be understood simply as the supposed names applied to them or the objects they denote.

SYMBOLS OF ANIMALS &C.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 1]

_Kal._ The symbol for the number 20. Found in all of the codices and explained in the preceding portion of this paper.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 2]

The symbol for 0 (nought), always red. Found only in the Dresden Codex and always in the numeral series.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 3]

_Kin._ Sun, and probably day also. It is not known positively that it has this signification except in connection with the equatorial cardinal point symbols and the symbol of the month _Yaxkin;_ yet it is reasonable to suppose it has.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 4 _a_ _b_ _c_ _d_]

_Aac_ or _Ac_. A turtle. That this symbol as shown in _a_ and _b_ denotes the turtle is conclusively proved by its resemblance to the head of that animal, as figured in the Cortesian Codex (see Fig.

373) and its relation to these figures. Found only in this codex, unless two doubtful symbols on Plate XXV*, Ma.n.u.script Troano, are to be considered as variants.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 373. Turtle from the Cortesian Codex.]