[Aztlan] 819day "Calendar"

[Harold H. Green]

I would like to add my voice to Lloyd's point that the 819-day count
(or "cycle") is not a "calendar," a term that needs to be used with some
caution in relation to ancient Maya methods of time-keeping, in my view.

I would also like to add two sources which I consider important in
understanding the genesis and nature of the 819-day count:

1. Christopher Powell's Master's degree thesis entitled "A New View  
on Maya
Astronomy" (University of Texas, May 1997). This thesis is  
unpublished, but it can be found at the
Maya Exploration Center website, www.mayaexploration.org, under the  
links
"Research" and "MEC online publications."

2. Gerardo Aldana's Ph.D. dissertation entitled "Oracular Science:  
Uncertainty
in the History of Maya Astronomy" (Harvard University, May 2001). In  
his chapter on "The Re-Creation of
Bakal: Astronumerology and Secret Knowledge in Kan Balam's Court" at  
Palenque,
Aldana demonstrates how the 819-day count originated at Palenque as a
means for commensurating the synodic periods of the five visible  
planets and
for constructing date intervals in the texts of the Triad Group (more  
familiarly
known as the "Cross Group"). This dissertation is not published, but  
is available
from UMI.  Some of the discussion is included in Aldana's recent book,
"The Apotheosis of Janaab' Pakal," University Press of Colorado (2007).

Hal Green


On Jun 19, 2008, at 7:01 AM, ECOLING at aol.com wrote:

> The 818-day *cycle* (not "calendar") was treated extensively
> by J. Eric S. Thompson on pp.212-217 of his
> _Maya Hieroglyphic Writing_ (third edition 1971 and later  
> reprintings).
> That treatment will answer most of your questions.
> That is where you should begin.
>
> There are several mis-statements in the message
> ("was based upon" and both occurrences labeled "in fact")
> and also some odd views attributed to Mary Miller
> but with no citations even of title of source.
> The reference to "calendars" as if physical objects
> is surely a misunderstanding.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Lloyd Anderson
> Ecological Linguistics
> PO Box 15156
> Washington DC 20003
> ecoling at aol.com
> 202-547-7683
>
>
>
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