Day Symbols of the Maya Year / Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1894-1895, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1897, pages 199-266.

Name: Day Symbols of the Maya Year / Sixteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1894-1895, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1897, pages 199-266.
Author: Cyrus Thomas

By Cyrus Thomas

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About This Book

The paper presents a systematic study of the twenty day-signs of the Maya calendar, analyzing glyphic forms, variant renderings, and possible phonetic values while arguing that many symbols functioned as phonetic consonant or syllable cues rather than full alphabetic spelling. Each day is treated with proposed meanings, comparisons across codices and inscriptions, and cross-cultural parallels including Nahuatl and Polynesian motifs, supported by plates reproducing glyphs. An appendix offers a comparative list of Māori day-deities, and editorial notes discuss transcription choices and typographical peculiarities.

About the Author

Cyrus Thomas

Cyrus Thomas was an American archaeologist and ethnologist known for his significant contributions to the study of Native American cultures, particularly the Maya civilization. He served as a prominent figure in the Bureau of Ethnology, where he published several influential reports. His notable works include "Aids to the Study of the Maya Codices," which delves into the complexities of Maya writing systems, and "Burial Mounds of the Northern Sections of the United States," where he explored the archaeological significance of burial mounds. Thomas's research has played a crucial role in advancing the understanding of indigenous cultures and their historical contexts.