THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION 121 



The Qumbers in section 2 are more difficult to explain 

 but they possibly have to do with corrections and cor- 

 relations of astronomical periods. If we add to 1 Ahau 

 L8 Kayah the number of days in K2, (68900), we arrive 

 at a day 1 Ahau 13 Mac. This day is prominent in 

 more detailed calculations elsewhere in the Dresden 

 Codex. If we add to the same 1 Ahau 18 Kayab the 

 number in D2 we arrive at 1 Ahau 18 Uo recorded at 

 the bottom of C. Space permits no further explanation 

 but the reader will see from the foregoing the method of 

 experiment and cross checking that must be applied to 

 the decipherment of the Mayan manuscripts. Fortun- 

 ately, the relationships of numbers are absolute and the 

 coincidences between the recorded numbers and 

 astronomical periods are too close and frequent to be 

 dismissed as accidental. 



In addition to rational calculations dealing with 

 astronomy one sees in the Mayan manuscripts many 

 arrangements of the tzolkin supposed to bring to light 

 good and bad days and to forecast events. A section of 

 the Dresden Codex showing a condensed tzolkin is pre- 

 sented along with a diagram of its parts. At the top and 

 right are seventeen hieroglyphs containing the symbols 

 of the four directions, and of at least three of the princi- 

 pal gods. At the right is a column of five day signs with 

 the number 3 at the head of the column. The permuta- 

 tion is divided into five parts of fifty-two days each and 

 each part is subdivided into four groups of three days 

 each. It begins with 3 Akbal the day sign at the top of 

 the column and after the four subdivisions of thirteen 

 days each have been counted we arrive at the day 3 

 Men, the second day sign in the column. The count is 

 repeated till the 260 days have been exhausted and we 

 come back again to 3 Akbal. In the diagram the red 

 numbers of the codex are represented by Roman 



