sr-i'EKl THE VASE OP CHAMA 661 



V2 



20 



21 23 



22 



The last one, 23, is explained by F()rsteinann as a numeric expres- 

 sion. It does, indeed, contain tlie numeral 8 and the element which 

 in the Dresden manuscript and u[)on the Copan stela' denotes the 

 period of 3()0 days, combined, it is true, with another element as yet 

 unknown. F()rstemann conjectures tliat tlie entire ijlyph is meant 

 to indicate a period of 8 solar years. 



(ilyph 12 may have a similai- special meaning. It may possibly, 

 in so far as the indistinct drawing admits of an^^ recognition, denote 

 the uinal Xul. The other glyphs, the groups 1, 2, 3; 4, 5, 0; 7, 8, 9; 

 10, 11; 20, 21, 22; 13, 14, 15; ]('>, IT. 18, 19, would belong, respec- 

 tively, to figures lY, ?>, (\ (I. c, /, and r/, beside which they stand. 

 As to tlie significance of all these, only vague conjectures can be 

 made. The special reference to food which Forstemann accepts for 

 6 and 14 is more than questionable. The reference to the fire drill 

 which he conjectures for 4, IT, 21 may stand, without justifying tb" 

 conclusions wdiich he draws from the fact. From the entire order of 

 arrangement I should conjecture that in each case the glyphs stated 

 the title and name of the jDerson in question; but, as Ave' know 

 nothing about either the one or the other, speculations concerning 

 them are of little value. I am somewdiat in sympathy with Diesel- 

 dorff's definition of 1 and 10 as Ah-pop. In that case we should haA^e 

 a curiously reduced foi-m of Pop. 



Should it be correct that 12 denotes the uinal Xul and 23 the period 

 of 8 solar years, I might develop a theory which would accord voiy 

 well with Forstemann's fundamental assumption, although, of course, 

 the interpretation of the principal conception moves along Avholly 

 different lines. From the sixteenth day of uinal Xul to the Hist day 

 of uinal Yaxkin, inclusive, the dei)arture of Cukidcan Avas celebrated 

 at Mani in Yucatan, and it Avas believed that during those days Cu- 

 kulcan descended from heaven to receiA^e gifts and houiage in person. 

 NoAV, Cukidcan is Quetzalcoatl, and Quetzalcoatl is identified with 

 Vemis, and in /, plate xiaiii, of our vase painting, we are reminded 

 of Quetzalcoatl by the form of the beard. If the Iavo glyphs, 

 therefore, correspond to the periods indicated above, we should haA'c 

 here the revolution of Vemis and the feast held in honoi- of the god 

 Avho is identified with Wntis, Quetzalcoatl-Ceacatl, (he morning 

 star, Avho appears and begins his course anew. This would lh"n l»e 

 the fundamental idea of our A'ase ])ainting. 



The aboA-e AA'ould be my explanation if I hatl only / aiui the two 



