230 



MAYAN CALENDAK SYSTEMS 



[ETH. ANN. 22 



without proof. Goodman rcad.s " 1-1-16-15," but the number over the 

 symbol is 18 and not IG. The two outer of the three units are cer- 

 tainlj' balls, and not rings or semicircles. This series is followed at 

 glyphs 23 and 24 (figure 155) by the date 11 Imix 19 Muan, and whether 

 we couut 18 or 10 chuens or cousider the 15 as chuens aud the 18 as 

 days, it fails to connect the preceding with the following date. Before 

 attempting to find the solution of the difficulty we will pass on to the 

 next series aud date and count back. 



Passing on to glyjjhs 27 aud 28 (figure 15(J) we find the series 8-10-4, 

 followed (glyph 20) by the date 13 Ahau IS Cumliu, and this is fol- 

 lowed immediate!}- (glyph 30) by the symbol for 17 katuns, apparently 

 inserted, as it is followed by no date, to show that the date Just 

 preceding it is in the 17tli katun, or that 17 katuns have been passed 

 over from the commencement of the cycle, most likely the latter. 



As Goodmau does not 

 discus s this series, 

 although he mentions it, 

 I give my own explana- 

 tion. That there is an 

 error here, if the number 

 over the chuen syml)ol is 

 intended to indicate chu- 

 ens, as there are but 18 

 chuens in an ahau, is 

 api^arent. Let us try 

 the count with the day 

 and chuen numbers re- 

 versed — that is, on the 

 supposition that the se- 

 ries should read 8-4—19. 

 This equals 2,979 days, 

 which number counted 

 backward from 13 Ahau 18 CUmhu brings us to 11 Imix 19 Muan, 

 which apparently justifies the change and proves the date "11 Imix 

 19 ]Muan " to be correct. 



Turning to Goodmaii's "Archaic Chronological Calendar," to the 9th 

 cycle of his 54tli great cycle, in which the series of this inscrii^tion 

 are located, we find that 13 Ahau is Cumhu is tlie fii'St day of the 17th 

 katun according to his method of numbering. Iiowev*er, it must be 

 remembered that he begins the count of katuns with 20, following 

 with 1, 2, etc., up to 19; therefore 13 Ahau 18 Cumhu is really the 

 fiist day of the 18th katun, 17 entire katuns having been passed over 

 from the initial date of the inscription (8 Ahau 13 Ceh, the first day of 

 the 9th cycle). This verifies our conclusion as to the signification of 

 the symbol for 17 katuns in glj'pli 30. 



Fig. 155. Part of inscription on the west side of Stela E, 

 Quirigna. Maudslay, part 12. plate xx.xi. 



