The Power of the Word Maya Hieroglyphs Calendars

The Power of the Word Maya Hieroglyphs, Calendars, and math

The Power of the Word �God said, “Let there be light…” �“I now pronounce you man and wife” �We hold these truths to be self -evident that all men are created equal… Hatshepsut’s tomb

Outline �What is a writing system? �Maya math �Calendars and time �Maya hieroglyphs �Practice exercise �Break �Library

Writing Systems �European languages- alphabetic �Maya hieroglyphics combination of signs that represent words and phonetic components

Types of Writing Systems � Living languages � Not evolutionary or linear development

Scribes Maize god as scribe, K 1185

Scribal workshop, K 717

Rabbit Scribe, K 05 Page from Madrid Codex, almanac

Maya Math Basics: �Vigesimal �Bar-and-dot �Zero What do they say? �Dates

Variants for the numeric glyphs

Time �Linear and cyclical �Units of time • • K’in Uinal Tun Katun �Day names • Monuments (left) • Codices (right) �Calendars

1: Tsolk’in � 260 days � 13 days, 20 day names • Ex: 12 Ahau �Ritual • Codices • Still in use in some areas of Maya highlands Madrid Codex

2: Haab � 18 months, 20 days • Ex: 16 Mak �No coefficient for 20 th day- called the ‘seating’ � 5 unlucky days at end = 365 day year �Agricultural

3: Calendar Round �Repeating cycle of 52, 365 day years �Used by cultures throughout Mesoamerica, not just Maya

• Two dates on the monument from Tikal. • 9 Ahau 13 Pop • 11 Ets’nab 11 Ch’en • Victory of Tikal lord over Calakmul Wooden lintel Temple 1, Tikal

4: Long Count �Unique to Maya �Linear, based on fixed point in time �Allowed rulers to connect with mythical past � 5 places: • Ex: 10. 4. 0. 0. 0 • 10 bak’tunob (ob is plural), 4 k’atunob, no winalob, no k’inob � ISIG glyph

Left: glyphs for LC components with inanimate variants (left) and animal forms (right) Right, top: variants of the ISIG glyph Right, bottom: example of LC date

Kablooey!!!!!!? ? ? � � Or not. There is no evidence the Maya ‘predicted’ that the world will end in 2012. LC composed of 13 cycles, December 21, 2012 marks the end of the 13 th cycle. What have you heard? Two Maya monuments mention this date: Stela C at Quirigua Monument 6 at Tortuguero

Izapa Stela 25 - Milky way? Flood page, Dresden Codex

Glyphs �Two basic types of glyphs • Syllabic • Logographic �How to write words with glyphs �Glyph blocks �Name exercise

Syllabic Glyphs �Vowels (pronounced like Spanish vowels) �Consonants joined to vowels �All syllables end in vowels �Ex: • English word note �Maya: no+t(o) • English word noote �Maya: no+t(i) �Unique sounds: glottal stops • T’o is not toe �Approximately 250 known Ma

Logographic glyphs �Stand for whole words, usually written in all caps �Approximately 500 known �When glyph looks like word, called pictogram

Writing words with glyphs �Reading order ‘general rule of thumb’ • Both individual glyphs and texts read from top left to lower right Glyph blocks are collocations of glyphs

Breaking it out �Quick example of how a glyph can be broken down into components Was seated Was born

�B’ALAM- jaguar 3 1 4 5 2 �CHAN- sky CHAN-n(a)

Writing your name 1. Divide your name into Maya syllables 1. Ex: Anna. A-na 2. Ex: Adam. A-da-m(a) 3. Ex: Antonio. A-n(a)-to-ni-o 2. 3. 4. Find your syllables in the syllabary chart. Choose a main syllable. Place syllables into the glyph block.

Ex: Ana Ex: Maria

Library �Look at several different pre-Hispanic and contact period codices