MEXICAN CALENDARS—SPINDEN 
the tropical year on the basis of 
365.2423 days occurs on Stela 12 at 
Piedras Negras. This is perhaps the 
most magnificent piece of Maya 
sculpture. It pictures a_ theocrat 
seated high above bound captives 
9-18-5-0-0, 4 Ahau 
1-13, 
9-18-4—16-7, 
cep tet 
C@Oo 
Ficure 1.—Celestial throne of a Theocrat on Stela 32, Naranjo. 
10 Manik 0 Zac Oct. 
2Ueaae 
on IN 
ee SS 
Jez Se 
wen 
2 
Waal 
IQ): 
cu o 
399 
and protected by his own warriors. 
He wears as headdress the Moan 
bird or Owl patron of Baktun 13 and 
operates under other mandates as 
well. The important part of the in- 
scription is: 
13) @eh Nov. 16; A. DD) 535 
14, A. Dy 535° 
wale 
The calculation concerns 
October 15, A. D. 553, also August 28 and 29, 554, with New Year on the Winter Solstice. 
The Theocrat was responsible, then, for a Year Dial Adjustment. 
The Owl Patron of 
Maya Zero terminates the three Celestial Bands. 
Here 4 Ahau is the day of Maya 
zero, 13 Ceh is the month position of 
Baktun 9, associated with the New 
Fire Ceremony, and November 16 
finds significance as a Venus position. 
The error on 3,908 tropical years is 
reduced) to .09, of a day—close 
enough! The superb theocrat is now 
a dictator using military power to 
enforce his will. Perhaps a moral 
could be drawn that when society 
raises a human being to the skies it 
runs the risk that egoism will ruin 
ethics. At any rate, during the sixth 
century Maya rulers became a war- 
ring lot. 
new cult. 
Head hunting is seen as a 
Rules for the Tropical Year 
Temple 44 at Yaxchilan has 15 
dates on inscribed steps and lintels. 
Here was a structure which the Maya 
thought worthy of signal honors. 
The original temple had light rubble- 
and-mortar walls, a thatched roof, 
and three doorways provided with 
inscribed steps. Later, stone lintels, 
carved in an advanced style, were 
put in place; at this time the upper 
