MORLEY— MAYA SUPPLEMENTARY SERIES 



presents a lunar count of some kind. 1 Four of the eight glyphs of 

 which a normal Supplementary Series is composed have some variant 

 of the moon-sign as an essential component. Thus, for example, in 

 the first and sixth glyphs, counting from right to left — Glyphs A and 

 E respectively in the present scheme of designation 2 — the moon-sign 



itself v^4| is the principal element; and in the fourth and fifth 

 glyphs (C and D respectively) the well-known variant from the 

 codices j|g is an equally essential part. Indeed the frequent juxta- 

 position of one or the other of these two variants with the sign for 

 the sun, both on the monuments as well as in the codices, clearly 

 establishes their identity as moon glyphs, and in a broader sense 

 indicates the nature of the Supplementary Series as being some kind 

 of a lunar count. Nor does the case rest on objective similarities only, 

 since, as will appear later, mathematical proof of a most convincing 

 kind can be advanced to show that at least one glyph of the Supple- 

 mentary Series, and that probably the most important, Glyph A, 

 records the length of a lunar month. Before presenting the math- 

 ematical and astronomical phases of the problem, however, it will 

 be necessary to continue the objective examination of the series, and 

 to determine the number and characteristics of the several glyphs 

 of which it is composed. 



As already stated, Mr Bowditch was the first to point out the 

 position of the Supplementary Series, namely, its immediate connec- 

 tion with the Initial Series terminal date. An examination of the 

 accompanying plates 3 will show that it occupies three different posi- 

 tions, as follows: (i) immediately preceding the Initial Series terminal 



1 The writer first announced this opinion in his "Introduction to the Study of the Maya 

 Hieroglyphs." See Morley, 1915, p. 152 and footnote I. Arithmetical proof of the hypothesis 

 however has only been forthcoming in the past year. 



2 This nomenclature is not that originally suggested by the writer, to which a few published 

 references have been made. As the investigation of the series has proceeded however, it has seemed 

 best to adapt a nomenclature more fitted to the peculiar needs of the group. The order of reading 

 is from right to left in both. A list of equivalents follows: 



Old 



New 



A 



= A 



C 



= B 





= X 



B 



= C 



Old 



New 



B' 



= D 



A' 



= E 



G 



= F 



F 



= G 



3 As each text has been given a different number, 1 to 80 inclusive, it has seemed unnecessary 

 to add the corresponding plate numbers. This considerably abbreviates reference to the several 

 texts. 



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