PL. II THE TABLEAU DES BACAB RESTORED.PL. II THE TABLEAU DES BACAB RESTORED.
Running our eye down the second column of the table, from 1 oppositeChicchanto 13, we find it is oppositeCaban, thus agreeing with what we find in the plate.
This will enable the reader to follow up the names and numbers on the table as I will now give them fromCaban(No. 36), in the manner above shown, remembering that the movement on the plate is around the circle toward the left, that is, up the right side, toward the left on the top, down the left side, &c., and that, on the tables, after one column is completed we take the next to the right.
FromCaban(No. 36) we go next toEzanabNo. 37 (the single dot is here effaced); then down the row of dots toOc, No. 38, over which is the numeral for 13; then toChuen, No. 39, immediately to the left (the single dot is dimly outlined immediately above it); then up the row of large dots toAkbalNo. 40 (the numeral character for 13 is immediately to the right); then toKanNo. 1, immediately to the left (the single dot adjoins it on the right); then to the left along the border row of dots toCibNo. 2, in the upper left-hand corner, immediately under which we find the numeral character for 13.
Fig. 2.—Scheme of the Tableau des Bacab.Fig. 2.—Scheme of the Tableau des Bacab.
Without following this further, I will now give a scheme or plan of the plate (Fig. 2), adding the names of the effaced characters, which thetable enables us to do by following it out in the manner explained. I also give inPlate IIanother figure of the plate of the Cortesian Codex, with the effaced characters inserted, and the interchange ofCabanandEbwhich will be hereafter explained. This plate corresponds with the plan or scheme shown inFig. 2.4
In this we commence with Kan, numbered 1, in the top row, moving thence toward the left as already indicated, following the course shown by the numbers.
By this time the reader, if he has studied the plate with care, has probably encountered one difficulty in the way of the explanation given; that there are usuallytwelvelarge dots instead ofeleven, as there should be, between the day signs; as, for example, between Kan No. 1 and Cib No. 2, in the upper row. This I am unable to explain, except on the supposition that the artist included but one of the day signs in the count, or that it was not the intention to be very exact in this respect. The fact that the number of dots in a row is not always the same, there being in some cases as many as thirteen, and in others but eleven, renders the letter supposition probable. In the scheme the number of dots in the lines is given as nearly as possible as on the plate.
As there are four different series of years in the Maya calendar, the Cauac years, Kan years, Muluc years, and Ix years, it is necessary that we have four different tables, similar to that given for the Cauac years, to represent them, or to combine all in one table.
As I have adopted in my former work5a scheme of combining them I will insert it here (Table III).
Table III.—Condensed Maya Calendar.
But I must request the reader to refer to that work for an explanation of the method of using it.
By using the different columns in this table, viz, the Cauac column, the Kan column, the Muluc column, and the Ix column, in the same way as we have that of the previousTable No. I, we shall find that the plate is intended to apply in the same way to each of the four years.6A further correspondence will also be found in the fact that the thirteen figure columns of our table just complete the circuit of the plate, and that for the other months (or rather weeks) we commence again at the first, just as the table.
For the Kan years we commence on our scheme (Fig. 2) or the plate (No. II) at Kan No. 1, at the top, and moving around to the left, as shown, we end the thirteenth column of the calendar (13 Akbal) with Akbal No. 40. For the Muluc years we commence with Muluc No. 11, of the left side of the scheme, and end with Lamat No. 10. For the Ix years we begin with Ix No. 21, at the bottom, and end with Been No. 20. For the Cauac years we begin with Cauac No. 31, at the right side, and end with Ezanab No. 30.
By following this plan we will find that the characters and numerals in the plate agree in every case with the names and numbers of the days in the table, showing that I have properly interpreted this part of the plate. It is impossible that there should be such exact agreement if I were wrong in my interpretation.
This, it seems to me, will show beyond controversy the respective quarters to which the different years are assigned in the plate—Kan to the top, where this year begins; Muluc to the left; Ix to the bottom, and Cauac to the right hand; and, as a consequence, that the top is the east; left, north; bottom, west, and right hand, south. But this is a point to be discussed hereafter.
Our next step is to ascertain the object in view in placing the twenty-day characters around the inner space in the order we find them. Here I confess we shall encounter greater difficulty in arriving at a satisfactory explanation; still, I think we shall be able to show one object in view in this singular arrangement, although we fall short of a complete interpretation.
If we commence with Ymix, in the upper line of the quadrilateral, and move around it to the left, as heretofore, noting the days in each side in the order they come on the plate, we find them to be as follows:
In the top line: Ymix, Chicchan, Muluc, Been, Eb.
Left column: Cimi, Ik, Oc, Ix, Ezanab.
Bottom line: Akbal, Manik, Chuen, Men, Cauac.
Right column (upward): Kan, Lamat, Caban, Ahau, Cib.
Now let us take the twenty days, in the order they stand in the calendar, commencing with Kan, writing them in four columns, placing one name in each in succession, thus:
If we commence with any other day the groups will contain respectively the same days, as, for example, if we begin with Ymix as here shown (Table IV).
As I am inclined to believe the author of the plate adopted this order I shall use and refer to this table in speaking of these groups.
Table IV.
Examining the five names in the third column we find they are the same as those in the bottom line of the quadrilateral of the plate, and also in the same order. Those of the second column are the same as those in the left column of the plate, though not precisely in the same order; those in the first column the same as those in the top line of the plate, except that in our column we have Caban in place of Eb; and those in the fourth column the same as those in the right column of the plate, except that in our column we have Eb instead of Caban. I am satisfied, therefore, that the artist who made the plate has transposed the characters Eb and Caban; that in place of Eb, the left-hand character of the upper line, there should be Caban, and in place of Caban, the middle character of the right column, there should be Eb, and have made this change in my scheme (Fig. 2) and inPlate II.
This, I admit, has the appearance of making an arbitrary change to suit a theory; but besides the strong evidence in favor of this change shown by the arrangement of the days in four columns just given, I propose to present other testimony.
That the characters here interpretedEbandCabanare the same as those given by Landa, and in the Manuscript Troano we have positive evidence in thetortousline in the outer space, of which we have already given an explanation. Hence there is no escape from the difficulty by supposing the artist had reversed the characters in their reference to the names. Either he has reversed them as to place, or we are mistaken in our supposition as to how the four groups were obtained.
If we turn, now, to the Manuscript Troano, and examine the day columns, comparing them with these four groups as I have corrected them by this single transposition, I think we shall find one clue at least to the object of the arrangement we observe on this plate. As but few are likely to have the Manuscript at hand, I will refer to Chapter VII of my work (A Study of the Manuscript Troano), where a large number of these day columns are given. In making the comparison I ask the reader to use my scheme (Fig. 2). Commencing with the first column on page 165, we find it to be Manik, Cauac, Chuen, Akbal, Men, precisely the same days as in the bottom line. The next two on the same page are first Akbal, Muluc, Men, Ymix, Manik, and second, Ben, Cauac, Chicchan, Chuen, Caban, taken alternately from the bottom and top lines of the quadrilateral.
On the lower part of the same page (165) is another column with the following days, Ahau, Oc, Eb, Ik, Kan, Ix, Cib, Cimi, Lamat, taken alternately from the right and left sides of the plate as given in our scheme. But there are only nine names in the column, when the order in which they are taken would seem to require ten. By examining the plate (IV) in the Manuscript the reader will see that there are indications that one at the top has been obliterated. By examining the right and left columns of our scheme we see that the omitted one is Ezanab. By counting the intervals between the days, as explained in my work, we find them to be alternately two and ten, and that by this rule the missing day is Ezanab. The reader will notice in these examples that Eb and Caban belong to the positions I have given them in my scheme (Fig. 2).
Turning to page 166 we find the first column (from “second division,” Plate IV) to be Kan, Cib, Lamat, Ahau, Eb, the same days as in the right column of our scheme. The second column, Cauac, Chuen, Akbal, Men, Manik, the same as the lower line of the scheme. The first column on page 167 has the same days as the right column of the plate, as corrected in my scheme and ourPlate II. The second column of this page presents a new combination. We have so far found the names of a day column all in a single group or line of our plate, or taken alternately from opposite sides; here we find them taken alternately from each of the four sides of the quadrilateral moving around to the left in the order I have heretofore explained. The days in this column are Caban, Ik, Manik, Eb, Caban. One is taken from the upper line (as corrected), then one from the left side, next from the bottom line, then from the right side (as corrected), and then the same from the top line.
It is unnecessary for me to give more examples, as the reader can make the comparison for himself; and he will, as I believe, find my theory sustained.
The only real objection I can see to my explanation of the arrangement of the days in this circle is the fact that it necessitates the transposition of two characters, but it is not unreasonable to suppose that the artist may have made this one mistake.
Fortunately we find on Plates 18 and 19 of the Codex Peresianus1what appears to be a complete confirmation of the theory here advanced.
This is a kind of tabular arrangement of certain days, with accompanying numbers, as shown in ourFig. 3, which is an exact copy of those portions of Plates 18 and 19 of the Codex Peresianus, to which I refer.
I also give inTable Vthe names of the days and the numbers corresponding with the symbols and characters ofFig. 3. In this table the erased days and obliterated numerals are restored, these being in italics to distinguish them from those on the plate.
Table V.
An inspection of this table shows us that the five days repeated in each column are the same as those on the right of the quadrilateral of our scheme (Fig. 2), and are exactly in the order obtained by arranging the days of the month in four columns in the manner heretofore shown. (See column 4,Table IV.)
If I am correct in my supposition, we then have one clue to, if not a full explanation of, the method of obtaining the day columns in the Manuscript Troano.
Fig. 3.—Copy from Plates 18 and 19, Codex Peresianus.Fig. 3.—Copy from Plates 18 and 19, Codex Peresianus.
Not this only, for this table of the Codex Peresianus furnishes us also the explanation of the red numerals found over the day columns in the Manuscript Troano. Take, for example, Plate XIX, first or upper division, given also in my Study of The Manuscript Troano, p. 176, here the number is IV, corresponding with column 4 of the above table (V), where the days are the same and the numeral prefixed to each day is 4. Plate XXVI (Study Manuscript Troano, p. 177), lower division, the days are the same and the number over the column is XIII, corresponding with the sixth column ofTable V. This corroborates the opinion I expressed in my former work, that the number over the column was to be applied to each day of the column.
Why is the order of the numerals in the extract from the Codex Peresianus precisely the same as the numbering of the Ahaues? I answer, because each column, if taken as referring to the four classes of years, will, when the number of the month is given, determine just the years of an Ahau; or a fancy of the artist to follow an order considered sacred.
To illustrate, let us take the next to the right-hand column of the table where the numeral is 1, and let us assume the month to be Pop, or the 1st. Then we have 1 Cib, 1 Ahau, 1 Kan, 1 Lamat, and 1 Eb of the first month, and from this data we are to find the years. As there can be four years found to each of these days, that is a Cauac year with 1 Cib in the first month, a Muluc year with one Cib in the first month, a Kan year with one Cib in the first month, an Ix year with one Cib in the first month, a Kan year with one Ahau in the first month, &c., it is evident that there will be, as the total result, just twenty years.
As I cannot repeat here, without occupying too much space, the method of finding the years, I must refer the reader to Study Manuscript Troano, p. 23,et al.Hunting them out, by using ourTable III, we find them to be as follows:
If we turn now to Table XVII (Study Manuscript Troano p. 44), we will find that these are precisely the counted years (those in the space inclosed by the dotted lines) in Ahau number VI.
If we assume the month to be the 11th then the numbers of the Ahaues will correspond exactly with the numbers of the columns of ourTable V.8
As it may be supposed that using the same numeral to any five days of the twenty in this way will produce a similar result, let us test it by an example. For this purpose we select the same column of our foregoing table,No. V—that with the number 1 prefixed—Cib, Ahau, Kan, Lamat, Eb, but in place of Lamat we insert Cimi. Hunting out the years as heretofore we find them to be as follows:
If we try to locate these years in an Ahau in Table XVII (Study Manuscript Troano p. 44), we shall find it impossible to do so, nor can we locate them in any table that can be made which has either twenty-four or twenty years in an Ahau, while on the other hand the twenty years obtained by using a column of the table from the Codex Peresianus can be located in some one of the Ahaues obtained by any division of the Grand Cycle into consecutive groups of twenty-four years that can be made. It would require too much space to prove this assertion, but any one who doubts its correctness can test it.
As the extract we have given from the Codex Peresianus relates only to one of the four groups of days—that on the right of the quadrilateral—I will supply in the following tables, Nos.VII,VIII, andIX, the arrangement of the groups of the other three sides; adding the other (Table VI), also, so as to bring the four together in the order of the sides of the quadrilateral, commencing with the line on the right, next the upper one, and so on.
While this is undoubtedly the order in which they are to be taken; which is the proper one to commence with? is a question yet to be discussed.
Table VI.
Table VII.
Table VIII.
Table IX.
There is still another and somewhat probable supposition in regard to the object of this division of the days of the month into groups of five, which will obviate one objection to the explanation given in my former work, viz, the very large number of dates given in the Manuscript Troano on the supposition that there are four years to each numeral connected with, the day columns. It is possible that the days of one group indicate the year intended; that is, whether it is a Cauac, Kan, Muluc, or Ix year.
For example, column No. 4 (Table IV), or some other, one of the four, may relate to Kan years; No. 1 to Muluc years; No. 2 to Ix years, and No. 3 to Cauac years. Assuming this to be correct, then the example heretofore given, where the days named are 1 Cib, 1 Ahau, 1 Kan, 1 Lamat, and 1 Eb, and the month the first (Pop), would indicate only the years 7 Muluc, 3 Muluc, 12 Muluc, 8 Muluc, and 11 Muluc. These would all come in Ahau No. VI, as before, but would indicate that the festival, or whatever they referred to, occurred but once every four years,in the first month of the year. Hence if the five days of a column (as of the Manuscript Troano) are all taken from one side of the quadrilateral of our scheme they will refer to years of one dominical sign only; if alternately from opposite sides, then to the years of two dominical signs, but if taken alternately from the four sides they would refer to the four classes of years. This will reduce the number of dates in the Manuscript Troano very considerably from the other supposition, but will not in any way change the position of the Ahaues in the Grand Cycle.
As one further item of evidence in regard to this method of arranging the twenty days of the month in four groups or columns, I call attention to what is found on Plate 32 of the Dresden Codex. Here we find the four columns of five days each, corresponding precisely with the arrangement of the Maya days into four groups, as heretofore. I present here the arrangement as found on this plate:
Table X.
It will be seen by comparing this grouping with that inTable IVthat columnaof this plate contains the same days as column 3 of the table; columnbthe same as column 4; columncthe same as column 1, and columndthe same as column 2.
But so far have found no entirely satisfactory explanation of the order given in many of these columns and in three of the sides of the quadrilateral of the Cortesian plate.
As this discussion is preliminary to a discussion of the assignment of the symbols of the cardinal points, it becomes necessary, in order to bring in all the evidence bearing upon the question, to examine certain points of the Mexican calendar system, as given by various authors and as exhibited in the Mexican Codices.
If we refer now to Plate 43 of the Borgian Codex, as found in Kingsborough’s “Mexican Antiquities,” Vol. III, a photo-engraved copy of which is presented in ourFig. 4, we shall, as I believe, not only find additional confirmation of the views I have advanced in reference to the peculiar arrangement of the days around the quadrilateral in the plate of the Cortesian Codex, but also strong evidence of a common origin of the Mexican and Central American calendars.