REAL NATURE OF SO-CALLED TIME PERIODS 



259 



As ii means of illustratiug the use of uumbers by the Mayas, iu 

 relation to time, the following example — which is part of a series on 

 plate LIX of the Dresden codex (figure 159) — is presented: 



13 Caban 



13 Cauac 



13 Imix 



13 Akbal 



13 Chicclian 



13 Manik 



As this series ascends toward the left hand the forward count will 

 be in that direction. Starting with the column at the right hand, we 

 subtract it (3-lS) from the next one to the left, and this one from that 

 immediately to the left of it, and so on to the last. 



The difference in each case is found to be 3-18; that is, 3 twenties 

 (3x20) plus 18 equal 78 daA's, the day being the unit. Counting for- 



• ••• 



• •• 



• • 



• ••i 



c c ® 



Fig, 159. Lower division of plate Lix, Dresden codex. 



ward 78 days from 13 Manik of any year (say 13 Manik 20 Zotz, 3'ear 

 12 Lamat) we reach 13 Chiechau (in this case 18 Mol, same year). 

 Counting forward 78 days from the last date we reach 13 Akbal l(j 

 Ceh, same year; 78 more (always counting from the last date), 13 

 Imix 14 Pax, same year; 78 more, 13 Cauac 7 Uo, year 13 Ben. If we 

 count Ijack 78 days from 13 Manik 20 Zotz (first column at the right 

 hand), we reach 13 3Iuluc 2 Pop, year 12 Akbal, which is the initial 

 day of the whole series, the month and year of the first given day 

 being as assumed above. 



Attention is called to this series not because it presents any peculiar 

 feature, but to show that considering the numerals merelj^ as num- 

 bers in respective orders of iinits will furnish a full aud .satisfactory 

 explanation of their object and use. I take for granted that'the 

 simplest explanation, if it meets every requirement and presents 

 nothing im^onsisteut with the known facts regarding the Maja time 



