MORLEi] INTRODUCTION TO STUDY OF MAYA HIEROGLYPHS 205 



Let US next examine the Initial Series on the tablet from the 

 Temple of the Cross at Palenque, which is shown in figure 77, B} 

 The introducing glyph appears in A1-B2, and is followed by the 

 Initial-series number in A3-B7. The period glyphs in B3, B4, B5, 

 B6, and B7 are all expressed by their corresponding normal forms, 

 which will be readily recognized. Passing over the cycle coefficient 

 in A3 for the present, it is clear that the katun coefficient in A4 is 19. 

 Note the dots around the mouth, characteristic of the head for 9 (fig. 

 52, g-l), and the fleshless lower jaw, the essential element of the head 

 for 10 (fig. 52, m-r). The combination of the two gives the head in 

 A4 the value of 19. The tun coefficient in A5 is equally clear as 13. 

 Note the banded headdress, characteristic of the head for 3 (fig. 51, 

 A, i), and the fieshless lower jaw of the 10 head, the combination of 

 the two giving the head for 13 (fig. 52, w)? The head for 4 and the 

 hand zero sign appear as the coefficient of the uinal and kin signs in A6 

 and A7, respectively. The number will read, therefore, ?. 19. 13.4.0. 

 Let us examine the cycle coefficient in A3 again. The natural assump- 

 tion, of course, is that it is 9. But the dots characteristic of the head 

 for 9 are not to be found here. As this head has no fleshless lower 

 jaw, it can not be 10 or any number a^ove 13, and as there is no 

 clasped hand associated with it, it can not signify 0, so we are limited 

 to the numbers, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,^ 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13, as the numeral 

 here recorded. Comparing this form with these numerals in figures 

 51 and 52, it is evident that it can not be 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 13, and 

 that it must therefore be 2, 1 1, or 12. Substituting these three values 

 in turn, we have 2.19.13.4.0, 11.19.13.4.0, and 12.19.13.4.0 as the 

 possible numbers recorded in A3-B7, and reducing these nmnbers to 

 units of the first order and deducting the highest number of Calendar 

 Rounds possible from each, and applying rules 1, 2, and 3 (pp. 139, 

 140, and 141, respectively) to their remainders, the terminal dates 

 reached will be: 



2.19.13.4.0 5 Ahau 3 Pax 



11.19.13.4.0 9 Ahau 8 Yax 



12.19.13.4.0 8 Ahau 13 Pop 



If this text is perfectly regular and our calculations are correct, one 

 of these tlu-ee terminal dates will be found recorded, and the value 

 of the cycle coefficient in A3 can be determined. 



- The terminal date of this Initial Series is recorded in A8-B9 and 

 the student will easily read it as 8 Ahau 18 Tzec. The only difference 



1 For the full text of this inscription, see Maudslay, 1889-1902: iv, pis. 73-77. 



2 As noted ia Chapter IV, this is one of the only two heads for 13 found in the inscriptions which is 

 composed of the essential element of the 10 head applied to the 3 head, the combmation of the two giv- 

 ing 13. Usually the head tor 13 is represented by a form peculiar to this number alone and is not built up 

 by the combination of lower numbers as in this case. 



3 Although at first sight the headdress resembles the tun sign, a closer examination shows that it is 

 Dot this element. 



