TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY HELD AT PHILADELPHIA FOR PROMOTING USEFUL KNOWLEDGE VOLUME 71, PART 5 1981 The Paris Codex: Decoding an Astronomical Ephemeris GREGORY M . SEVERIN THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY I N DEPEN DEN CE SQUA R E: P H ILA DE LP HI A 1981 This content downloaded from 201.153.95.41 on Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:57:22 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms PUBLICATIONS OF The American Philosophical Society The publications of the American Philosophical Society consist of PROCEEDINGS, TRANSACTIONS, MEMOIRS, and YEAR BOOK. THE PROCEEDINGS contains papers which have been read before the Society in addition to other papers which have been accepted for publication by the Committee on Publications. In accordance with the present policy one volume is issued each year, consisting of six bimonthly numbers, and the price is $12.00 net per volume. THE TRANSACTIONS, the oldest scholarly journal in America, was started in 1769 and is quarto size. 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An author desiring to submit a manuscript for publication should send it to the Editor, American Philosophical Society, 104 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106. This content downloaded from 201.153.95.41 on Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:57:22 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY HELD AT PHILADELPHIA FOR PROMOTING USEFUL KNOWLEDGE VOLUME 71, PART 5 1981 The Paris Codex: Decoding an Astronomical Ephemeris GREGORY M. SEVERIN THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY I N DE PEN DE N CE SQ UA R E: P H IL AD ELP H IA 1981 This content downloaded from 201.153.95.41 on Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:57:27 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms Copyright ?) 1981 by The American Philosophical Society Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 80-68488 International Standard Book Number 0-87169-715-7 US ISSN 0065-9746 This content downloaded from 201.153.95.41 on Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:57:27 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms PREFACE Several years ago while writing a term paper com- science never ceased to amaze me, and I have benefited paring the cosmogonies of the Maya and the Egyp- immensely from our association. His untimely death tians, a curious thought came to mind. I wondered in February, 1980, was a great personal loss. whether the Maya had a zodiac with wondrous myth- My appreciation is extended to Dr. Thomas S. Bar- ical beings who crossed the nighttime sky and con- thel of the University of Tuibingen, West Germany, sorted with the moon and the planets, as did the a co-referee of my dissertation at Basel, for his me- Egyptians. I wondered also whether they had ages ticulous analysis and critique of my work. Our re- ruled by one of those beings, and whether the Maya search interests crossed unusually in several areas, an priest-astronomers, fascinated by the march of time, example of which I am proud to elaborate in one of recorded calculations of the precession of the equi- the appendices to this monograph. My scholarship has noxes. I had read that in a certain Paris Codex pictures been greatly enhanced through our contact. of beings appeared on a partially destroyed page which A note of gratitude is owed to Dr. Floyd Lounsbury may have been a representation of a zodiac. I thought of Yale University and Dr. David Kelley of the Uni- this Paris Codex must have been a wonderful book; versity of Calgary, Canada. It was these gentlemen a great pity it was no longer intact. I was sure that who listened to my ebullient exposition of a half-baked if a Maya zodiac ever turned up, it would have not theory on the Paris Codex at a meeting at Yale in twelve but thirteen constellations-surely thirteen, the March, 1977. Their comments and criticisms greatly sacred number of the Maya. encouraged me in pursuing the course of research I About a year later, I discussed some of my ideas had outlined. with an archaeologist, Dr. Gordon Ekholm, of the Many thanks are due Dr. Anthony Aveni of Colgate American Museum of Natural History in New York. University. His detailed and always constructive cri- When I mentioned the Paris Codex, he withdrew from tiques of several drafts of my work have been of great his shelves an old book with yellowed pages. It was aid in refining and supplementing my arguments. Dr. then that I first beheld the Paris Codex. To my sheer G. A. Tammann and Dr. U. Steinlin of the Astro- delight, not only the page about which I had asked nomical Institute of the University of Basel have sup- but the previous page as well contained two rows of plemented my knowledge and assurance in the realm strange beings hanging from a band which represents of astronomy. the sky. Without counting I was sure there were thir- My intellectual acknowledgment would not be com- teen and perhaps the table between the pictures was plete without mention of the late J. Eric S. Thompson. an astronomical reckoning related to the zodiac. Dr. I regret never having made his acquaintance, but his Ekholm kindly made a copy of the manuscript for me books and articles have served as my textbooks in which I examined very closely that very night. Thus Maya research. Several times in the following pages began my fascination with the Paris Codex and the I take exception to his opinions or hypotheses. How- writings of the Maya. ever, I have been impressed by the acknowledgment Since my initiation into Maya studies, numerous of his own errors in print, and know that he would people have helped further my research. Actually, my have given my arguments impartial judgment. I hope debt extends back to my childhood when my father, to admit error with the same grace. the late Harry M. Severin, introduced me to the joys I would also like to thank several people whose ef- of Egyptian dynastic history and the decipherment of forts helped make this monograph possible. My mother, hieroglyphics; it was then that I developed my first Augusta Severin, has given ceaseless faith and has love for the knowledge of the ancients. I would like tirelessly typed several drafts of the manuscript. My to extend a token of gratitude, however inadequately appreciation is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Walter El- this may be expressed, to all those who have aided and lenberger of Hagendorf, Switzerland, a family to me encouraged my pursuit of scientific truth. during my stay in Switzerland. And to all my col- The late Dr. Joachim Otto Fleckenstein, my Dok- leagues and predecessors whose work has influenced torvater at the University of Basel, Switzerland, was the development of my own thought, I acknowledge a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. my profound gratitude. He was instrumental in securing my admission to the university where this monograph developed from my dissertation research. His erudition in several fields of March, 1981 GREGORY M. SEVERIN 3 This content downloaded from 201.153.95.41 on Sat, 22 Sep 2018 12:57:27 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figures Frontispiece-Paris 23-24 (after de Rosny, 1887) ........ ................. 6 1. Three Spots as the Jaguar Skin ........................................................ 11 2. Rattlesnake High on the Back of the Jaguar ............................................. 12 3. Reconstructed Jaguar ................ ................................................. 13 4. Reconstruction of Paris 23-24 .......................................................... 14 5. The Year Bearers . .................................................................... 18 6. Calculating within One Zodiacal Year ................................................... 25 7. Calculating in Sidereal Year Equivalents ................................................ 28 8. Venus Heliacal Risings . ................................................................ 32 9. Lintel 3 (left side), Temple IV Tikal .................................................... 56 10. The Sky on 9.15.10.0.0 .57 11. The Sky on 9.15.12.2.2 .58 12. The Sky on 9.15.12.11.13 .59 13. The Skyon 9.16.4.1.1 .60 14. The Skyon 9.15.9.13.0 .61 15. Moon/Mars "Conjunction" .............................................................. 62 16. The Sky on 9.16.12.5.17 ............... ................................................ 63 17. Moon/Antares Conjunction ............................................................ 64 18. Monument 30, San Lorenzo ........................................................... 71 19. Monument 19, La Venta .............................................................. 72 20. Archetypal Jaguar and Black Spotted Dog ................................................ 74 21. Stela