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Old questions and new answers Correlation – eclipse table – venus table _______________________________________________________________________
Correlation It would be interesting to know the amount of followers of the Mayan explorers for each of the correlation constants published till now (about 50 – 60). The
GMT-group with 584285 and 584283 is leading without any doubt and separates the field of experts into two camps. The debate about the 2 days has been continuing for nearly 70 years and is especially apt to divert
from the weak sides of GMT. A short contemplation of the development of the correlation constant from the 1st trial by Goodman with 584280 (1905)
then Martinez with 584281 (1926) then Thompson with 584285 (1927) then ‘Thompson 2" with 584283 (1935) shows that Goodman – from today’s view – already hit the mark, if
the 3-5 days of difference are neglected. The GMT-group was completed with Beyer with 584284 (1937) and Lounsbury with 584286 (1978), who soon changed to 584285. Among the other correlation constants only
the constant of Spinden 489384 (1919) could get more attention for some time, while the remaining constants couldn’t get more followers. According to today’s knowledge the constants proposed till now lie between the
values of 394483 by Bowditch (1910) and 774083 by Vaillant (1935) and this means, that the start of the Mayan calendar on 0.0.0.0.0. 4 Ahau 8 Cumku has his equivalent according to Bowditch on 14.01.-3632 and according
to Vaillant on 29.04.-2593. What possibilities are there to limit this space of more than 1000 years and to get to statements that are either probable or improbable? The following argument tries to show the limits.
A radiocarbon-method or C14-method used in the 60ies on wooden lintels of temple IV in Tikal came to the following result according to William R. Coe (1988:81): “The hieroglyphic inscriptions on these
lintels indicate that the temple IV was built at about 9.15.10.0.0, or AD. 741 in the usually accepted Maya-Christian correlation. A long series of radiocarbon dates on lintel beams and vault beams give an average age
of A.D. 720 +/– 60, which helps to confirm the correlation.” In spite of the space of 120 years, the C14 method has an important function:
It limits the space within which a certain Mayan date has to be present. Following these rules, 2 important conclusions must be considered: The space for the LC-date 9.15.10.0.0 must extend from AD 660 to 780, or
the starting date for the Mayan count 0.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumku must lie between the years –3194 and –3073. The correlation number then has to be between 554523 and 598718.
Every value beyond 554523 and 598718 is to be considered improbable. ____________________________________
The eclipse table An additional argument concerns the ‘preface of the eclipse table’ from the Dresden Codex, p. 51a and 52a. The Mayan date 9.16.4.10.8 12 Lamat 1
Muan is considered as the basic date for the eclipse table according to the majority of the Mayan investigators. As the majority interpretes the eclipse table as sun eclipses, then 9.16.4.10.8 + correlation
constant has to result in a sun eclipse according to the tables of Oppolzer (1887). Taking GMT 584283 as an example, we see that this postulate is not fulfilled: 9.16.4.10.8 = MDN (Maya Day Number) 1412848 +584283
The next day of a sun eclipse is according to Oppolzer 32 days later, on 8.12.755. To support 584285 Lounsbury proposed to set the beginning
of the eclipse table on 20.4.1083, i.e. 9.16.4.10.8 = 1412848 + 10 times the length of the eclipse table = 119600 = 1532448 + 584285 = JD 2116733 = 20.4.1083 (Julian calender). It is improbable that the creators
of the eclipse table set the beginning at 328 years later. To be able to predict the sun eclipses which were highly feared was for theMayan astronomers a task for the present.
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Venus table The majority of the Mayan
investigators preferred as a basic date for the Venus table the Mayan date Datum 9.9.9.16.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab. This day is linked to the first rising of Venus in the morning sky – the so-called heliacal
rise. Here again we see no correspondence with GMT: 9.9.9.16.0 = MDN (Maya Day Number) 1364360 +584283 = JD 1948643 = 4.2.623 (Julian calender). On this day Venus was seen in the evening sky, at
about 23 – 24° distance from the sun. The heliacal rise didn’t take place before 21.2.623, i.e. 17 days later. Here again Lounsbury postponed the beginning of the Venus table for 6 calender rounds into the future, to
finally reach the heliacal rise with 584285 to the date 10.5.6.4.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab = 20.11.934. ____________________________________
New answers If we search the Mayan literature for arguments for interpretations which are used in the
prefaces of the Dresden Codex of the eclipse and the Venus table, we find for each table only one argument. For the eclipse table that is the date Datum 9.16.4.10.8 12 Lamat 1 Muan. All further records
stay more or less unanswered. Only Lounsbury describes the preface in detail. Even the so-called ‘multiples’ are listed, he recommends, however, to add these ‘multiples’ 10 times to 9.16.4.10.8. A tenfold multiple is,
however, not listed in the preface. One specialty is obvious in the ‘multiples’: the 3 and 4fold ‘multiples’ are each listed twice with 4.19.12.0 and 6.12.16.0. This fact is decisive for determing the starting
point of the eclipse table: 9.16.4.10.8 12 Lamat 1 Muan MDN 1412848 minus 4
x 11960 minus
3 x 11960
= 9.9.11.12.8 = 9.11.4.16.8
12 Lamat 16 Mac 12 Lamat 11 Chen
MDN 1365008 MDN 1376968
Start <<<<<<<<<<<< 1st table round >>>>>>>>>>> End.
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The main argument for setting the starting point in the Venus table is the date 9.9.9.16.0 “There has to be another explanation
as the one of an observed rise of the morning star…” already Dittrich states in 1937. Makemson (1946) supported this view in a similar way. But 9.9.9.16.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab is after 8 decades still standing firm
in his position – according to the saying: “An error, committed by everone, is finally considered as a rule.” André Malraux
The starting point of the Venus table is not 9.9.9.16.0 1 Ahau 18 Kayab, but 9.9.16.0.0 4 Ahau 8 Cumku = MDN 1366560
minus 10 Venus cycles = 5840
= MDN 1360720 =
1 Ahau 8 Cumku. But what then is the meaning of the dates 1 Ahau 18 Kayab, 1 Ahau 18 Uo, 1 Ahau 13 Mac and 1 Ahau 3 Xul ? This is the description of the correction procedure for the Venus table which
was excellently described by Lounsbury. The Mayan astronomers set the Venus synodic round with 584 days, but the real value is 583,92 days. To limit the sum of this deviation, the Mayans developped the following
correction procedure: After 57 Venus cycles (presented in the preface with 4.12.8.0) = 33280 days a correction of 8 days is achieved, after another 61 Venus cycles = 35620 days the correction is 4 days and after
another 61 Venus cycles another 4 days. Without correction: 179 Venus cycles x 584 days = 104536 days
With correction: 33280 + 35620 + 35620 = 104520 days
Reduction = 16 days
With this reduction the Tzolkin date 1 Ahau attributed to Venus is reached. The procedure for correction is described by the following example: Supposed on the day 1 Ahau 18 Kayab a heliacal rise was described,
then after 57 Venus cycles the date 1 Ahau 18 Uo would be reached. After another 61 Venus rounds 1 Ahau 13 Mac and after another 61 rounds 1 Ahau 3 Xul would be reached. Why the Mayan astronomers didn’t use for the
correction formula a real heliacal rise of the Venus, this fact already incited Dittrich to muse about a secret code. ______________________________ Now only the correlation constant is
missing which is able to complete the circle and enables to check the arguments listed above. The correlation constant has the value
556408
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The eclipse table The starting date – see above – is 9.9.11.12.8 12 Lamat 16 Mac, MDN 1365008 + correlation constant 556408 = JD 1921416 = 20.07.548. According to Oppolzer this is a day of solar eclipse. The first solar eclipse in the eclipse table will be predicted with the date 7 Chicchan 8 Zotz, JD 1921593 = 13.01.549. (The exact time of the new moon was one day later). The 69th and last solar eclipse of the table with the date 12 Lamat 11 Chen was predicted for 18.04.581, JD 1933376. These two eclipses are so-called days of solar eclipses, but neither of them was to be seen in the region of the Mayans.
Venus table: The starting date of the Venus table is – see above – After 57 + 61 + 61 Venus cycles = 21.12.822 the real heliacal rise was in 25.12.822. The correction system couldn’t
compensate the synodic cycle of the Venus to the day for a longer period, in addition the synodic Venus cycle vacillates between 579 and 588 days.
(The Venus dates have their origin in a PC-Astro-Software by F. Verbelen, Belgium). _______________________________ These facts enable a multitude of new insights while unveiling the content
of the Dresden Codex. An astronomically orientated expert soon will make his own discoveries, e.g. on the Mars table, p. 58 with the date and the date _______________________________ I’d be happy to receive commentaries and questions at |
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