While in the second case:—

5. The Serpent.

As in the section occupying pages 61-64, the single series is crowned by four serpents with eight large numbers, so in this section the two series end in a single serpent with two numbers, one for each series, but both bear some obscure relation to the day VIII Ahau, which has made its appearance here. The two sections also correspond, inasmuch as the numbers in both are computed not from the normal date, but from the date IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix).

The serpent pictured here is different from the previous ones, inasmuch as it is partly black. The god B is sitting on its opened jaws, and this time he, too, is painted black (as on page 31c); there is an animal's head upon the god's head, in which we again recognize that of the animal with the fourth serpent in the preceding section. The god is armed with spear and shield and recalls his picture at the bottom of page 74.

There are eight hieroglyphs above this picture, just as there are over each of the first four serpents. The two top hieroglyphs are obliterated. Of the legible hieroglyphs, the one at the left top is the Bacab sign, which also occurs over the first of the four serpents. In the third line are the same two hieroglyphs, which are in the third line of the first and second columns on page 70. The first of the two also occupies the same place on page 62 above the fourth serpent. But here at the bottom we find the date IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix), the same date which we found over the fourth serpent, which is thus again brought into closer connection with the single serpent.

There can be no doubt here regarding the two numbers in the serpents, but notice should be taken of the fact that the figure 1 is barely visible in the red number.

The black number here has the figures 4. 5. 19. 13. 12. 8. and the red 4. 6. 1. 0. 13. 10. The black is therefore 12,381,728, and the red 12,391,470. The black number is somewhat less than the eight numbers in the four serpents, and the red is somewhat larger than the least of them.

The difference of the two is 9742 = 37 × 260 + 122; but 122 is the interval between days IV Eb and IX Ix. Now this is the same 9742 which we found on page 70, as the difference between 111,554 and 101,812.

In order not merely to examine these numbers, but also to understand them, we will again make use of 109 Ahau-Katuns = 12,412,920, as we did in the first four serpents, and we shall have the following:—

The date given for both numbers was the day IX Kan, which was likewise the starting-point for six of the eight numbers in the previous serpents.

Besides this the day IV Eb, the starting-point of the 65-series, is given for the black number, and therefore also the interval between IV Eb and IX Kan = 252.

To this 252 was added a multiple of 260, not an arbitrary choice, but one which combined with 252 resulted in a number divisible by 8, the interval from IX Kan to IV Eb. 31,192 = 3899 × 8 = 119 × 260 + 252 was thus obtained.

The subtraction of this number from 12,412,920 resulted in the serpent number 12,381,728.

In addition to all this the day IX Ix, the starting-point of the 54-series, is given for the red number; consequently also the interval between IX Ix and IX Kan = 130, which, at the same time, is reversely the interval from IX Kan to IX Ix.

To this 130 was added a multiple of 260, which must in every case be a multiple also of 130. Thus we obtain the 21,450 = 82 × 260 + 130.

The subtraction of this number from 12,412,920 results in the serpent number 12,391,470.

Reckoned from the starting-point IX Kan 12 Kayab (4 Ix) the black number corresponds to the date IV Eb 5 Chen (10 Muluc) and the red to IX Ix 12 Zip (11 Kan), and these two dates must certainly have been under the serpent; the months unfortunately are effaced.

It is self evident that the black number is exactly divisible by 8 and the red by 130.

The two events indicated by the two numbers must be to some extent coincident with the beginning of the seven events recorded in the previous four serpents. These large numbers pertaining to the destruction of the world are a reminder of the numbers, which on page 24 we believed were connected with the creation of the world. Thus here, too, we have the genesis and the apocalypse of all the mythologies.

6. The Columns of Hieroglyphs.

The last portion of this section is formed by the two middle columns of hieroglyphs on page 69. They bear an extraordinary resemblance to those discussed under page 61 even in regard to the fact that each column contains 18 signs. Besides, the upper 10 lines, i.e., the upper 20 signs, are exactly alike on the two pages, aside from slight variations, and differ only in so far as the passage on page 69 is written on blue ground and the one on page 61 on white.

But also the lower part, with eight signs in each column, shows many points in common with page 61. Here as there the whole is divided into several groups.

With the four signs 11ab and 12ab, which formed the first group there, I can compose only the two signs 11ab here. In the cross 11a, as on pages 24 and 58 of the Manuscript, I see the sign for 20 with the prefixed 5 making 25. In 11b we find the sign for 18,980 days, which we have already met with several times. Hence 11ab would have the value of 25 × 18,980 = 474,500 days, as on page 61 the corresponding four signs seemed to form 421,940. And as the number there was 1156 × 365, so on page 69 we have 1300 × 365.

I believe there is a disarrangement in what follows, inasmuch as I assume that the two signs 12b and 13a ought to be placed before and not after 12a. Assuming that the two little crosses on either side of the 1 are meaningless, we should assign the value of 61 to the 3 Chuen, 1 Kin. Here, in the first place, the intention seems to be to establish some connection with the two days VII Kan and IV Ik specified with their numbers on page 63, column 3, as well as with the days most important there, III Chicchan and XIII Akbal, i.e., a connection with the previous section of the four serpents in general; for the interval from VII Kan to III Chicchan, as well as that between IV Ik and XIII Akbal is 61 and on pages 70-73 the two most important days, IV Eb and IX Ix, are 122 days apart, and 122 is the second multiple of 61. I can now put the 144,000 of 12a in the place of the 13a. Then, secondly, the four signs from 13a to 14b in the one section are exactly like those in the other section, and therefore need not be discussed here. Only 15ab differs from the signs in the other passages inasmuch as on page 69 we find 4 × 20 + 4 × 1. The last 4 agrees even better than it does there with the distance from IV Ahau to the day Kan with which the serpent numeral begins.

Nothing on page 69 corresponds to the signs in 16ab and 17ab of page 61. On the contrary, the initial date of the serpent IX Kan 12 Kayab, which on page 61 does not appear until 18ab is set down in 16ab. On the other hand on page 69 the four signs 17ab and 18ab are added, 17a being a sign as yet unknown with 13 as a superfix. I feel inclined, though with many misgivings, to treat 17ab like 5a and b of page 61 and to assign to them the value of an Ahau-Katun of 113,880 days. For then they would denote the 13th Ahau-Katun, which extends from the day 1,366,560 (page 24) to 1,480,440 and which contains the two large numbers on page 70, left, top, while the two lower numbers in the first and second columns of that page belong to the 12th Ahau-Katun, and the two in the third and fourth belong to the 14th Ahau-Katun. The 13th would be the present and the 12th and 14th the past and future; but all this could only be confirmed by further research. At all events, the signs for beginning in 17b and for end in 18a refer to past and future. Unfortunately, 18b is entirely effaced.

Page 74.^[5]

Besides the picture, this page contains only 15 hieroglyphs in three horizontal rows. Only about six of these signs are decipherable. The second, third and fourth of the lower line are three different heads; the middle is the familiar head of god B, the one on the left has the Akbal eye and the abbreviated sign for the south, which is repeated in the affix; the head on the right has the sign for the west as a prefix. Very little more is to be said of the other hieroglyphs than that the second and third of the second line have the sign for the east; the first of the second line, however, was the one which we found on pages 71-73 as the constant companion of the Bacabs and which suggested the wind. The last sign of the second line must have contained that for north, so that the four cardinal points all came together here.

The picture begins below these signs. Astronomical figures, apparently Venus, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter, end in the fore part of a crocodile. Below the astronomical signs are the signs for the sun and moon. Streams of water are falling from the jaws of the crocodile and also from the sun and moon. And a fourth stream is being poured from a jug by the old woman with the tiger claws, and with the serpent on her head, whom we saw on pages 39, 43 and 67 engaged in the same occupation. Cross-bones are represented on her skirt as the symbol of death. The sign of the ninth day, Eb, appears on the jug; this is the day which was avoided in the Tonalamatls, for not a single Tonalamatl begins with Eb in the Dresdensis, nor does one begin with the week-day IX; does Bolon meaning nine suggest Balam, the jaguar?

Still further down on the page sits a black god, who may be the same as the god on pages 7a and 16b, with a bird of prey on his head. There are two arrows in his right hand and his left hand holds what may be an atlatl, but it is very much longer than is usually the case; at the same time it can be regarded as a spear.

This page can denote nothing but the end of the world, for which the serpent numbers have prepared the way. Perhaps what looks like a zero above the sign Eb in the stream of water may likewise point to this calamity.

INDEX.

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The numbers in the first column refer to the pages of the Manuscript, and those in the second column to the pages of the Commentary.

Notes