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The Creat Venus Cycle and Solar and Lunareclipses with their incidence on Postclassic Maya society
MICHEL DAVOUSTC. N. R. S.
INTRODUCTION
Page 4b of the Paris Codex about Katun 11 Ahauand page 58b of the eclipse table of the DresdenCodex, both indicate a double solar and lunar eclipse,followed or preceded by a heliac setting of Venus asthe evening star (plates 1 and 2).
Plate 1. Dresden Codex, p. 58b. Picture 10.
It would be interesting to compare this glyphic formwith the Venus cycle, the table of solar and lunar eclipsespainted in the Dresden Codex, with astronomical obser-vations on these two cycles. I noted that a couple of solarand lunar eclipses sometimes precedes a heliac setting ofVenus as the evening star. This setting seems to have hadsome influence on Maya society of the postclassic period.
Plate 2. Paris Codex, p. 4b. Katun 11 Ahau.
MICHEL DAVOUST 67
I would also take into account the katun and baktuncycles.
1.°) The Great Venus Cycle
ln 1992, Aveni pointed out a link between the greatVenus cycle and a lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan.
He based this idea on the outline proposed byLoundsbury (1983) of various reutilization basic datesof this great cycle of 37.960 days. This cycle contains65 venusian years of 584 days each, corresponding to104 solar years of 365 days each. According to Louns-bury, these basic dates are for the Postclassic Mayaas follows:
10. 0. 0.14. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab10. 5. 6. 4. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab10.10.11.12. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab10.15. 4. 2. 0 1 Ahau 18 Uo11. 0. 3. 1. 0 1 Ahau 13 Mac11. 5. 2. 0. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul.
This could be continued as follows:
11.10. 7. 8. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul11.15.12.16. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul12. 0.18. 6. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul
For the Classic period, that we will not discuss here,but in another paper, I reconstructed the followingbasic dates:
8.15.12.10. 0 1 Ahau 3 Mol9. 0.18. 0. 0 1 Ahau 3 Mol9. 5.10. 8. 0 1 Ahau 8 Zac9.10.15.16. 0 1 Ahau 8 Zac9.16. 1. 6. 0 1 Ahau 8 Zac.
In this way, I counted the first date 1 Ahau 3 Molaccording to the optimal elongation of 68 days follow-ing the Venus inferior conjunction observed on8.19.10.11.0 8 Ahau 18 Yaxkin on the Altar Q at Copan(Schele and Larios, 1991). For the second date, 1 Ahau8 Zac, I observed an optimal elongation of 72 days be-fore the Venus inferior conjunction on the date9.12.0.0.0 10 Ahau 8 Yaxkin on the middle panel of theTemple of the Inscriptions at Palenque (Closs, 1989a).
According to Schele and Grube (1991), the firstbasic date 1 Ahau 3 Mol is confirmed on the stela J atCopan.
The second basic date, 1 Ahau 8 Zac, was given byThompson (1972: 63) in his correction of the number1.5.5.0 in 1.6.0.0, on page 24 of the Dresden Codex, as:
9. 9. 9.16. 0
1 Ahau 18 Kayab1. 6. 0. 0
9.10.15.16. 0 1 Ahau 8 Zac.
2.°) The Solar and Lunar Eclipse Table of theDresden Codex
Pages 51 to 58 of the Dresden Codex present a 69-column-table, made of multiples of 177, 178 and 148days for a 11.959-day-period. ln this table are insertedten pictures topped by an 8-glyph-text which some-times contains solar and lunar eclipse glyphs. Thetenth picture also has the «Em Ek» glyph (falling of astar), which mentions the heliac setting of venus asthe evening star (plate 1).
Page 52a of the Dresden Codex gives three basicdates for using this table (Thompson, 1972: 71).
9.16. 4.10. 8
12 Lamat (1 Muan)15
9.16. 4.11. 3
1 Akbal (16 Muan)15
9.16. 4.11.18
3 Etznab (11 Pax).
The Dresden Codex also gives two other reutiliza-tion dates of the table before the baktun 10 and 11:
9.19. 7. 7. 8
12 Lamat (11 Kankin) and10.19. 6. 1. 8
12 Lamat ( 6 Cumku) (Thompson,1972: 74)
In 1983 H. and V. Bricker proposed a recyclingmodel of the eclipse table that I used for the periodfor which the Dresden Codex does not propose anyrecycling date.
Moreover, Closs (1989) noted that picture 10 is re-lated with the basic date of the table by the distancenumber 13 tun or 1 katun added to it. This image de-picts and anthropomorphic form of Venus diving to-wards earth from a sky band from which are sus-pended some solar and lunar eclipse glyphs. TheLamat (Ek) glyph is substituted for Venus's head and asharp flint is placed between the figure's legs.
68 MAYAB
3.°) The Link between the Great Venus Cycle and 10.18.16.11.10
7 Oc 13 Ceh
the Solar and Lunar Eclipses in the Postclas- 13. O. 0sic Period
10.19. 9.11.10 7 Oc 8 Ch'en for 11.0.3.1.0 1
First, we will see the changing of the two baktun Ahau 13 Mac.
for each readjusting date of the great cycle. Or even, if we add one katun:
a) The Changing of Baktun10.18.16.11.10
1. 0. 0. 07 Oc 13 Ceh
In the eclipse table on pages 51a and 52a of theDresden Codex, I noted two reutilization dates of thetable
9.19. 7. 7. 8
12 Lamat (11 Kankin) and10.19. 6. 1. 8
12 Lamat ( 6 Cumku)
related respectively with the coming of the baktun 10and 11.
lf we add 13 tun to the first date, we arrive at thepicture 10 to the position 10.0.0.7.8. 12 Lamat (6Zac). This date precedes the first basic date of thegreat Venus cycle
10. 0. 0.14. 0 1 Ahau 8 Kayab (first heliac ris-ing of Venus as the morningstar).
ln the same way, the second position of the picture10
10.19.19. 1. 8 12 Lamat (1 Muan)
precedes the fifth basic date of the great Venuscycle
11. 0. 3. 1. 0 1 Ahau 13 Mac.
However, we can see that in the Brickers'model(1983), the similar positions are coming either afterthe Venus basic date
9.19.11. 0. 8 12 Lamat 11 Xul13. 0. 0
10. 0. 4. 0. 8 12 Lamat 6 Zip for10.0.0.14.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab
10.19.16.11.10 5 Oc 13 Yaxkin for 11.0.3.1.0 1Ahau 13 Mac.
lt seems that the reutilization dates of the DresdenCodex fit better than those presented by the Brickers(1983).
In the first case, we have, according to Aveni (1992,plate 3.2), the following outline:
7 Ahau 18 Zip Copan Altar SPatwan NahChan Tun Witz?it was built, thefirst serpent ofthe rocky hill?
12 Lamar (6 Zac) picture 10 onpage 58b of theDresden CodexEm Ek, 13 Tun,Chibil Kin ChibilUh Hun CaanalAhaw Tzuc
10. 0. 0. 3.15 4 Men 13 Yaxkin Solar eclipsevisiblein Yucatan
10. 0. 0.11.17 10 Caban Lunar eclipse15 Muan visible in
Yucatan(November 3,830 A. D.,according toAveni (1992)
10. 0. 0.13.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab Heliac setting
8 of Venus as theevening star
10. 0. 0.14. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab First heliacrising of Venus
10. 0. 0. 0. 0
10. 0. 0. 7. 8.
or much before the basic date, for the great Venus as the morningcycle star.
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MICHEL DAVOUST 69
I didrit find any reference to these eclipses in themonuments, not even on the stela 7 of Machaquiladated from 10.0.0.13.0 7 Ahau 18 Pax, where KingHun Tzac Tok is represented.
ln the second case, Aveni (1992) does not give anylunar eclipse before the base 11.0.3.1.0 1 Ahau 13Mac.
However, we can note that the position of picture10 with the date 10.19.6.1.8 12 Lamat (6 Cumku) is10.19.19.1.8 12 Lamat (1 Muan). This date occurs tendays before the heliac rising of Venus as the eveningstar.
b) Link with the Katun
The Second Basic Date of Venus: 10.5.6.4.0 1 Ahau18 Kayab
This date occurs in Katun 8 Ahau (10.5.0.0.0 to10.6.0.0.0). It can be preceded by the date of the tenthpicture on page 58b of the eclipse table of the Dres-den Codex, according to the Brickers (1983).
10. 5. 3.12. 8 12 Lamat(16 Mol)
10. 5. 5.11. 2 4 lk 0 Yaxkin
10. 5. 6. 2.14 1 lx 12 Pax
10. 5. 6. 3.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab
8
10. 5. 6. 4. 0 1 Ahau18 Kayab
Yaxkin, according to the Chilam Balam of Chumayel(Roys, 1933: 114-16 and Thompson, 1970: 13-14).
The Third Basic Date of Venus: 10.10.11.12.0 1 Ahau 18Kayab.
The third basic date occurs in Katun 11 Ahau, asshown both on page 60 of the Dresden Codex and onpage 4b of the Paris Codex.
On page 60 of the Dresden Codex, we see a depictionof the regent of Katun 11 Ahau seated on a war serpent,with a spear and a shield on the left side of the image. Akneeling warrior carries the war serpent. On the rightside, stands another warrior with the diving bird Yaxunattached to his forehead. This warrior grasps a crouchedcaptive. ln the middle, in red ink, the number of Katun11 Ahau and, under it and in black ink, the number ofthe tun (2) (plate 3), are indicated. Thus we can arrive atthe position in the long count 10.10.2.0.0.
Picture 10 EmEk Chibil KinChibil Uh
Solar eclipsevisiblein Yucatan
Lunar eclipsevisible inYucatan(October 25,934 A. D.,according toAveni, 1992).
Heliac settingof Venus as theevening star
First heliacrising of Venusas the morningstar.
1 add in the enclosed plate the probable date of ar-rival of the Itza at Chichen Itza, 10.4.9.7.3 2 Akbal 1 Plate 3. Dresden Codex, p. 60. Katun 11 Ahau.
70 MAYAB
In the top glyphic text, it seems that the civil day 10Yaxkin could be associated with the sacred day 5Manik. The 5 Manik is the only possible one in thesecond tun, for the date 10.10.1.17.7 (5 Manik) 10 Yax-kin. This date probably refers to an important conflictin the polity whose center was Ahaw Zuy (168:564.130) or Yahaw Zuy (The Great Whirling)(126.168:564).
ln the text of the upper calendar of the same pageappears the war glyph Tok Pacal, the name of katun'spatron Bolon Yocte and the sequence: U Cabi Tz'at tuba Chahc (the land of the incomparable artist Chahc).
According to Davoust and Garing (1993), a lunareclipse could be visible in Yucatan on the date10.10.0.8.14 5 lx 7 Kayab, in the first tun of this katun.
The Paris Codex probably dates from the end of a13 katun cycle which should be the last Katun 6 Ahau,finishing on 11.0.0.0.0 (1224 A. D.). The Dresden Codexcould be later, dating from the last base of the Venuscycle given in the table: 11.5.2.0.0 1 Ahau 3 Xul (1324A. D.).
On page 4b of the Paris Codex, we find two glyphsof sixth tun, indicating the position 10.10.6.0.0 in thelong cycle. This position could proceed from the ob-servation of a supernova in Katun 2 Ahau from10.8.0.0.0 to 10.9.0.0.0 (987 to 1007 A. D.), reproducedon page 2b of the codex (plate 4).
According to a personal communication fromNahm and Grube (1993), the glyphic form in F1-G2could be read as Petah u Kak (it was rounded, his fire).Bate Tok (war glyph) 19th tun. This glyphic form givesthe position 10.8.19.0.0. Now, according to the chinesehistory chronicle «The Official History of the Song Dy-nasty Compiled by Toktaga and Ouyand Hsuanaround 1345 A. D.» (Burnham, 1978): «The sixth day ofMay in the year 1006 A. D. (10.8.18.12.4 in the mayalong count), a Chou-po star appeared in the south ofthe Ti house (in the Lupus constellation).» «Its shapewas that of a half-moon and it was so brilliant that ob-jects were visible with its light. The star appeared inthe East of k'u lou. During the eighth month (from theend of August to the end of September, 10.8.19.1.0),the star dived under the horizon, following the sky'srotation. During the eleventh month (10.8.19.4.0), thestar was still visible.»
lt has also been observed by Arabic and Japaneseastronomers. Observation of this supernova is an im-portant datation element for the katun cycle inscribedon pages 1 to 12 of the Paris Codex, from 4 Ahau to 6Ahau corresponding to the positions 10.7.0.0.0 to11.0.0.0.0.
Plate 4. París Codex, p. 2b. Katun 2 Ahau.
On page 4b of the Paris Codex, the civil day 16 Zacis associated in G1 with the sixth tun of Katun 11Ahau, giving the date 10.10.5.4.8 (3 Lamat) 16 Zac (cfplate 2). The day seems to be implicit as in the case ofpage 60 of the Dresden Codex. Once again, the glyph6 tun (Wac piz tun), followed by some bad presageglyphs: an cimil an nal (death of the Maize god) and ahcimil winic (man's death). Finally, we find again thelunar and solar eclipse glyph (Chibil Kin Chibil Uh), fol-lowed by the Em Ek Venus glyph (setting of a star).
Aveni (1992) recognized a lunar eclipse visible inYucatan on
MICHEL DAVOUST 71
8, visible in Yucatan on 10.15.4.0.2. 2 lk 0 Pop (October29, 1129 A. D.), 38 days before the new reutilization dateof the great Venus cycle on 10.15.4.2.0 1 Ahau 18 Uo.
no But we can not note any eclipse glyph, or any «fall-ing of a star» as on page 9b of the Paris Codex for thecorresponding katun. However, we have to take intoaccount that a part of the left column is obliterated,according to Treiber's photo (1987) and to Villacortaand Villacorta's drawing (1930).
10.10. 6.12.18
13 Etznab
(December16 Pop
1033 A. D.)
and Davoust and Garing (1993) a solar eclipsevisible in Yucatan on
10.10. 6. 4.17
8 Caban preceding it.0 Ceh,
Thus, correspondingly, we find again our modelwith the following outline:
10.10. 5. 4. 8 (3 Lamat) 16 Zac page 4b of theParis Codex
10.10. 6. 0. 0 (2 Ahau page 4b of the3 Yaxkin)
Paris CodexChibil Kin ChibilUh Em Ek
10.10. 6. 4.13 (4 Ben) 16 Zac page 4b of theParis Codexother possibleposition of thesecond date
10.10. 6. 4.17 8 Caban 0 Ceh Solar eclipsevisible inYucatan (Garin,1993)
10.10. 6.12.18 13 Etznab
Lunar eclipse16 Pop visible in
Yucatan (Aveni,1992)
10.10. 6.14. 0 9 Ahau 18 Uo Heliac settingof Venus as theevening star
10.10.11.11.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab Heliac setting
8of Venus as theevening star
10.10.11.12. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab First heliacrising of Venusas the morningstar.
The Fifth Venus Basic Date: 11.0.3.1.0 1Ahau 13 MacWe already saw this date with the very difficult
passage for the Maya to the baktun 11.
The Sixth Venus Basic Date: 11.5.2.0.0 1 Ahau 3 Xul.This date appears in Katun 7 Ahau, indicated in the
Chilam Balam of Tizimin and Mani for the first series.Aveni (1992) noted a lunar eclipse visible in Yuca-
tan on 11.4.17.0.9 4 Muluc 17 Yaxkin (January 26,1320 A. D.), in a Katun 9 Ahau. Thus, we have the fol-lowing, outline:
11. 4. 6. 7. 1 11 Imix 9 Zotz'
Basic date ofthe eclipsetable of theDresden Codex,according tothe Brickers(1983)Solar eclipsevisible in Yuca-tan
11. 4.17. 0. 9 4 Muluc
Lunar eclipse17 Yaxkin visible in
Yucatan,according toAveni (1992)
11. 4.17. 2. 8 4 Lamat16 Ch'en
Heliac settingof Venus as theevening star
11. 4.19. 7. 1 11 Imix 19 Mac
Picture 10 onpage 58b of theDresden CodexEm Ek ChibilKin Chibil Uh
End of Katun 9Ahau
The Fourth Venus Basic Date: 10.15.4.2.0 1 Ahau 18 UoThis date appears in Katun 1 Ahau on page 9b of 11. 5. 0. 0 .0
9 Ahau 13 Xul
the Paris Codex. Aveni (1992) noted a lunar eclipse
72 MAYAB
11. 5. 2. 0. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacrising of Venusas the morningstar andprobable date ofthe DresdenCodex (1324A. D.)
ln the Chilam Balam of Tizimin and Mani, Katun 9Ahau and 7 Ahau do not contain any mention of solarand lunar eclipse, any mention of Venus, but only offamine (Edmonson, 1982: 59): ti okol uah, okol haa uuah katun (afflicted the tortilla, afflicted the water, thefood of the katun [9 Ahau]).
The Seventh Basic Venus Date: 11.10.7.8.1 1 Ahau 3Xul.
This date occurs in Katun 10 Ahau, recorded onstela 1 at Mayapan, corresponding to 11.11.0.0.0 10Ahau 3 Mac (1441 A. D.) (plate 5).
The picture is similar to that on page 11b of theParis Codex, which indicates the same katun. On theleft side, the arriving deity probably is holding a ser-pent. On the right side, the katun's patron is seated ona throne, and the bird Itzam Yeh flies above the twofigures. Glyph 10 Ahau is inscribed between them.Unfortunately, the top 36-glyph-text is obliterated(Pollock, Roys, Proskouriakoff and Smith, 1962, fig.12).
These two katun are separated by 260 years andbelong to two different series.
As well as the precedent base, we find again thefollowing outline:
11.10. 5.14. 5
4 Chicchan
Lunar eclipse18 Ceh visible in
YucatanJohnson (1994)
11.10. 5.14. 8 7 Lamat 1 Mac Heliacal settingof Venus as theevening star
11.10. 5.14.16
2 Cib 9 Mac
Heliacal risingof Venus as themorning star
11.10. 5.15. 0
6 Ahau 13 Mac
Solar eclipsevisiblein Yucatan
11.10. 6. 1. 1 9 Imix 14 Kayab Picture 10 page58b DresdenCodex Em Ek13 Tun ChibilKin Chibil UhHun CaanalAhaw Tzuc
11.10. 7. 2.19 4 Cauac 1 Pop page 34 of theMadrid CodexEk Xib ChahcWest AhauTzuc
11.10. 7. 7.12 6 Eb 15 Tzec Heliac settingof Venus as theevening star
8
11.10. 7. 8. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacrising of Venusas the morningstar.
ln a recent study of the Madrid Codex, I proposedthat this codex was written at Mayapan, as Thompsonthought (1972: 16). On page 73b, Chahc carries an inkbowl and a brush, seated in a cenote with the Muanbird. At the beginning of the upper text, is indicatedthe date 13 Ahau 13 Cumku. This date could corre-spond to the long count 11.11.10.8.0 (1452 A. D.), asso-ciated with Katun 8 Ahau, which follows that of stela 1at Mayapan. This date is very close to that of theMayapan's collapse, according to the Chilam Balam ofTizimin and Mani (first series) (Edmonson 1982: 157-59).
This date occurs in the year 13 Muluc, and is asso-ciated with the deity Chac Xib Chahc and the Orient,according to the new year ceremonies mentioned onpage 36 of the Madrid Codex. ln the Same way, Chahcis accompanied with war serpents, war glyphs, rainand solar eclipses, on pages 13b to 18b.
The picture is associated with a 260-day-tzolkinwhich begins just after the date 13 Ahau 13 Cumku.
The Eighth Basic Venus Date: 11.15.12.16.0 1 Ahau 3Xul (November 1, 1532 A. D.).
This date is associated with Katun 13 Ahau. Wefollow the same base 1 Ahau 3 Xul (although this baseis ten days off, compared to real observation), be-cause no other one appears in the Dresden Codex.
Nr4
911T • n I, 4-
14tirel
MICHEL DAVOUST
73
Plate 5. a). Paris Codex, p. 11b. Katun 10 Ahau. b). Mayapan Stela 1. Katun 10 Ahau.
74 MAYAB
By this time, the Spanish had already conqueredYucatan and Guatemala. On February 20, 1524 A. D.(11.15.4.1.8 1 Lamat 16 Zac), King Tecum Uman ofthe Quiche of Utatlan was defeated by the conquista-dor Pedro de Alvarado. According to Closs(1989b:390), Captain Alonso Dávila observed a lunareclipse in 1531, during the conquest of Chetumal. lnhis account, Davila tell us that the Queen of the Nightwas attacked by the ant Xulab, who is in reality a formof Venus. 1n the Lacandon dialect, Xulab indeedmeans «star». According to Bruce (1979: 247), Xulabmeans «destroyer», one of Venu's titles. Xulab alsomeans «star» in Cholti according to Moran (1935: 260)and Ulrich and Ulrich (1976: 248).
According to Thompson (1930: 120, 125, 132),Xulab designates morning star for the Mopan and theKekchies of Belize.
Using the Bricker's model (1983), we find the fol-lowing outline:
11.15. 8.14.12 2 Eb (15 Tzec) Picture 10 onpage 58b of theDresden CodexEm Ek ChibilKin Chibil Uh
11.15.11. 4. 6 5 Cimi 19 Ceh Solar eclipsevisible in Yuca-tan
11.15.11. 5. 1 7 Imix 14 Mac Lunar eclipseobserved byAlonso Davilaat Chetumal in1531 (accordingto Closs, 1989b)
11.15.12.15.12 6 Eb 15 Tzec
Heliac settingof Venus as the
8 evening star
11.15.12.16. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul
First heliacrising of Venusas the morningstar.
lt is interesting to note that in the Chilam Balam ofTizimin and Chumayel, Katun 13 Ahau of the secondseries, which belongs to the same period (11.15.0.0.0to 11.16.0.0.0), indicates a lunar and solar eclipse (cfEdmonson, 1982: 30-31): Nacpahon Kin Nacpahon u
Plate 6. Aztec glyph of the great Venus cycle. Chichen ItzaVenu's platform.
uich u. This can be translated as «it will be covered,the sun/it will be covered, the face of the moon».
The Ninth Basic Venus Date: 12.0.18.6.0 1 Ahau 3 Xul.This date corresponds to the coming of baktun 12
and the passage from Katun 5 Ahau to Katun 3 Ahau.The arrival of baktun 12 was preceded by the tunprophecies of Katun 5 Ahau, proposed in the ChilamBalam of Mani and Tizimin.
Among these prophecies is presented a solar andlunar eclipse in the year 1 lx, corresponding to thefourteenth tun (11.19.14.0.0 in the long count). Also arepresented numerous wars for the years 13 Kan, 2 lx, 4Kan, 9 Muluc, 10 lx, 4 Muluc, 5 lx and 7 Kan, and thearrival of Kukulcan in the nineteenth tun (year 6Cauac). This year is associated with the Occident: EkXib Chahc and Ahaw Tzuc, on page 34 of the MadridCodex.
Two other serpents, Ahaw Can and Hapay Can, ap-pear in the ninth and tenth tun of Katun 5 Ahau beforethe lunar and solar eclipses.
MICHEL DAVOUST 75
ln the Chilam Balam of Chumayel and Tizimin, thesame Katun 5 Ahau of the second series mentions nowar or eclipse, but only famine and adultery, accord-ing to Edmonson (1982 and 1986).
The basic date 12.0.18.6.0 1 Ahay 3 Xul only ap-pears in Katun 3 Ahau. ln the second series of the Chi-lam Balam, this katun only mentions war, drought,grass-hopper invasions and epidemics.
CONCLUSION
In this paper, I pointed out the importance of thegreat Venus cycle (65 venusian years of 584 dayseach or 104 solar years) in the maya society, fromthe postclassic period to the arrival of the Spanish.According to a Lacandon myth, the coming of thisgreat cycle partly caused wars, droughts and other
natural and social disasters, even the destruction ofthe world.
We saw that Venus was an especially terrible causeof lunar and solar eclipses, as the reutilization date ofthis great cycle approached, corresponding to the firstheliac rising of Venus as the morning star.
The Maya examined with extreme attention the cal-culation of these lunar and solar eclipses whichprecede the disappearance of Venus as the eveningstar, eight days before its first heliac rising as themorning star.
The Maya believed Venus was a permanent agres-sor of the solar and lunar deities, from observing itssuccessive approaching and moving away during sun-rise and sunset.
ln another paper, I will examine the role of Chahcand that of the serpent as a form of Venus attackingthe sun.
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TREIBER, Hannelore. 1987. «Studien zur Katunserie der Pariser Mayahandschrift » , en Acta Mesoamericana, vol. 2, Verlag VonFlemming, Berlin.
VILLACORTA, Antonio and Carlos VILLACORTA. 1930. Códices mayas. Guatemala.
ULRICH, E. M., and R. D. ULRICH. 1976. Diccionario bilingúe Maya Mopan y Español y Maya Mopan. Instituto Lingiiístico deVerano, Guatemala.
TABLE OF THE GREAT VENUS CYCLE AND SOLARAND LUNAR ECLIPSES DURING THE MAYA POSTCLASSIC PERIOD
Copan 10. 0. 0. 0. 0 7 Ahau 18 Zip End of Katun 7, end of Baktun 9. Patwan NahAltar S Chan Witz Tun? it was built, the first serpent
of the rocky hill?
10. 0. 0. 3.15 4 Men 13 Yaxkin Solar eclipse visible in YucatanPicture 10page 58 bDresden Codex 10. 0. 0. 7. 8 12 Lamat (6 Zac) Em Ek 13 Tun Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Hun Caanal
Ahaw Tzuc10. 0. 0.11.17 10 Caban 15 Muan Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan. Aveni (1992)
Page 50 10. 0. 0.13.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening starDresden CodexFirst basicdate
10. 0. 0.14. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab First heliacal rising of Venus as the morningstar
10. 1. 0. 0. 0 5 Ahau 3 Kayab End of Katun 5 Ahau
Chilam 10. 4. 9. 7. 3 2 Akbal 1 Yaxkin Supposed arrival of the Itza at Chichen Itza.Balam Thompson (1970)ChumayelPicture 10 10. 5. 3.12. 8 12 Lamat (16 Mol) Em Ek 13 Tun Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Hun CaanalPage 58b Ahaw TzucDresden Codex
10. 5. 5.11. 2 4 lk 0 Yaxkin Solar eclipse visible in Yucatan10. 5. 6. 2.14 1 lx 12 Pax Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan. Aveni (1992)
Page 50 10. 5. 6. 3.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening starDresden CodexSecond basic date 10. 5. 6. 4. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab First heliacal rising of Venus as the morning
star10. 6. 0. 0. 0 8 Ahau 8 Yax End of Katun 8 Ahau
Page 60b 10.10. 1.17. 7 (3 Manik) 10 Yaxkin Arrival of warriors in the capitol of YahawDresden Codex Zuy
Page 4b 10. 0. 5. 4. 8 (3 Lamat) 16 ZacParis CodexPage 4b 10. 0. 6. 0. 0 (2 Ahau 3 Yaxkin) Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Em EkParis CodexPage 4b 10.10. 6. 4.13 (4 Ben) 16 Zac Other possible position of the second dateParis Codex
10.10. 6. 4.17 8 Caban 0 Ceh Solar eclipse no visible in Yucatan. Davoustand Garing (1993)
MICHEL DAVOUST 77
10.10. 6.12.1810.10. 6.14. 010.10. 8.11.12
13 Etznab 16 Pop9 Ahau 18 Uo5 Eb 5 Cumku
Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan Aveni (1992)Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening starSolar eclipse visible in Yucatan (Johson, 1994)
Page 50 10.10.11.11.12 6 Eb 10 Kayab Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening starDresden CodexThird
basic date10.10.11.12. 0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab First heliacal rising of Venus as the morning star
Page 4 10.11. 0. 0. 0 11 Ahau 13 Zip End of Katun 11 AhauParis CodexPage 60Dresden Codex
Solar eclipse no visible in Yucatan10.15. 4. 0. 0 13 Ahau 3 Uayeb Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan. Aveni (1992)
Page 24Dresden Codex
10.15. 4. 2. 0 1 Ahau 18 Uo First heliacal rising of Venus as the morning
starFourth basicdatePage 9b 10.16. 0. 0. 0 1 Ahau 3 Muan End of Katun 1 AhauParis Codex
Picture 10 10.19.19. 1. 8 12 Lamat (1 Muan) Em Ek 13 Tun Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Hun Caanal
Page 58b Ahaw TzucDresden Codex
10.19.19. 1.18 9 Etznab 11 Muan Heliacaf rising of Venus as the evening star11. 0. 0. 0. 0 6 Ahau 8 Mac End of Katun 6 Ahau and Baktun 10
Solar eclipse no visible in Yucatan.11. 0. 2.12. 7 11 Manik 0 Yaxkin Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan11. 0. 3. 0.16 10 Cib 9 Mac Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening star
Page 50Dresden Codex
11. 0. 3. 1. 0 1 Ahau 13 Mac First heliacal rising of Venus as the morning
startFifth basicdate 11. 1. 0. 0. 0 4 Ahau 8 Mol End of katun 4 Ahau
Page 52a 11. 4. 6. 7. 1 11 Imix 9 Zotz Basic date of the eclipse table Brickers (1983)
Dresden CodexSolar eclipse visible in Yucatan
11. 4.17. 0. 9 4 Muluc 17 Yaxkin Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan. Aveni (1992)11. 04.17. 2. 8 4 Lamat 16 Ch'en Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening star
picture 10 11. 4.19. 7. 1 11 Imix 19 Mac Em Ek 13 Tun Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Hun Caanal
Page 58b Ahaw Tzue
Dresden Codex11. 5. 0. 0. 0 9 Ahau 13 Xul End of Katun 9 Ahau
Page 50Dresden Codex
11. 5. 2. 0. 0. 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacal rising of Venus as the morningstar
Sixth basic
date11. 6. 0. 0. 0 7 Ahau 13 Pop End of Katun 7 Ahau
11.10. 5.14. 5 4 Chicchan 18 Ceh Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatan. Johnson
(1994)11.10. 5.14. 8 7 Lamat 1 Mac Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening star
78 MAYAB
11.10. 5.14.16 2 Cib 9 Mac Heliacal rising of Venus as the morning star11.10. 5.15. 0 6 Ahau 13 Mac Solar eclipe visible in Yucatan
Picture 10 11.10. 6. 1. 1 9 Imix 14 Kayab Em Ek 13 Tun Chibil Kin Chibil Uh Hun CaanalPage 58b Ahaw TzucDresden Codex
11.10. 7. 7.12 6 Eb 15 Tzec Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening starPage 50Dresden Codex
11.10. 7. 8. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacal rising of Venus as the morningstar
Seventh basicdateMayapan Stela 1 11.11. 0. 0. 0 10 Ahau 3 Mac End of Katun 10 Ahau
Picture 10 11.15. 8.14. 12 2 Eb (15 Tzec) Em Ek 13 Tun Chibnil Kin Chibil Uh HunPage 58b Caanal Ahaw TzucDresden Codex
11.15.11. 4. 6 5 Cimi 19 Ceh Solar eclipse visible in Yucatan11.15.11. 5. 1 7 Imix 14 Mac Lunar eclipse seen in 1531 by Davila in Yuca-
tan11.15.12.15.12 6 Eb 15 Tzec Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening star
Page 50Dresden Codex
11.15.12.16. 0 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacal rising of Venus as the morningstar
Eighth basicdateChilam Balam 11.16. 0. 0. 0 13 Ahau 8 Xul End of Katun 13 Ahau seconds series Solar
and lunar eclipses
11.19. 0. O. 0 7 Ahau 13 Ch'en End of Katun 7 AhauChilam Balam 11.19.13.17.19 2 Cauac 2 Xul Lunar eclipse visible in Yucatanof Tizimin 11.19.14. 0. 0 3 Ahau 3 Xul Solar and lunar eclipses. Edmonson, 1982and Mani 11.19.14. 1. 7 4 Manik 10 Yaxkin Solar eclipse visible in Yucatan
12. 0. 0. 0. 0 5 Ahau 3 ZotZ End of Katun 5 Ahau and Baktun 11
12. 0.18. 5.12 6 Eb 15 Tzec Heliacal setting of Venus as the evening star
page 50Dresden Codexninth basicdate
12. 0.18. 6. 0. 1 Ahau 3 Xul First heliacal rising of Venus as the mornigstar
12. 1. 0. O. 0 3 Ahau 18 Kayab End of Katun 3 Ahau
